John Mitch Is Woodbridge St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — This year’s Woodbridge St. Patrick's parade is March 8, stepping off at 1:30 p.m. It starts at Woodbridge High School.Marches down Freeman St, to Linden Ave, to Green St, to Amboy Ave, to Main Street and ends at Town Hall.

The parade is put on every year by the American Irish Association of Woodbridge, a civic organization that meets monthly, sponsors the Justin McCarthy Scholarship, maintains the Charlie Shaughnessy Park, visits the Menlo Park Veterans Home, Tools Around Town, puts up handicap ramps, etc.

Their club pub is located at 95 Port Reading Ave. Woodbridge.

Parade Chair for 2026 is Jason Kost.

“Our parade committee has worked tirelessly for months to bring this parade to life," said Kost. "I am proud to lead an effort that celebrates our Irish heritage and provides entertainment for the entire community. The parade is a longstanding staple inWoodbridge Township’s history."

The parade is funded with ads from local businesses and donations. To participate or contribute please write to PO Box 114, Iselin, NJ 08830. Or message us on Facebook at American Irish Association of Woodbridge.

Woodbridge clerk John Mitch is the 2026 parade grand marshal. Mitch is a life-long resident of Avenel where he resides with his wife Laura of 31 years. They have three children; daughter Kelly (and her fiancé C.J.), son Tommy, and daughter Kara.

Long before his connection to town hall, John joined the Avenel Fire Company in 1980 where he served as Company President from 1995-1998 and Fire Chief in 1993. In 1987 he was elected Fire Commissioner and, to this date, continues to serve in that capacity with the exception of a few years.

In 1989 at the age of 28, John was elected Councilman for the 4th Ward in Woodbridge Township. He was reelected four years later but resigned in 1996 to become the township’s Deputy Municipal Clerk and Emergency Management Coordinator. In 2000, he was appointed Municipal Clerk and Registrar of Vital Statistics and continues to serve in these capacities today.

During the administration of the late Mayor Frank G. Pelzman, John pulled triple duty for 2 1⁄2 years when he was appointed Acting Business Administrator by the mayor and confirmed by the Municipal Council. During this time, he would also serve as Acting Mayor when needed.

In past years, John has served as a Trustee of the NJ State Police Pension Board, Past President of the Middlesex County Municipal Clerks’Association and Past President of the Municipal Clerks’ Association of New Jersey.

He is a parishioner at St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church and is also an ordained minister. John has been the announcer for the past 25 years for Woodbridge Township’s annual Holiday Parade, conducts pre-parade interviews of the honorees for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade hosted by the American Irish Association of Woodbridge Township, and can be heard from time to time on the Woodbridge channels announcing high school sporting events.

This year, Mitch is also being honored in 2026 by Woodbridge Elks Lodge No. 2116 as Citizen of the Year.