Montauk's 56th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade Coming Soon

MONTAUK, NY — Irish eyes will be smiling in Montauk as what's called the second largest St. Paddy’s parade in New York State, the Montauk Friends of Erin 56th St. Patrick’s Day Parade, unfolds on Sunday, March 25.

Highlights of the event include the Montauk Chamber of Commerce ladling out hot soup for sale in parade commemorative mugs, starting at 10 a.m. Grand Marshal Kathleen Keller will kick off the parade at noon; Keller is the third Keller family grand marshal, following her brother Patrick in 2007, and father Gil in 1969, organizers said. She is the granddaughter of Joseph Pugh, one of the founding fathers of the parade. Keller is also a member of the Friends of Erin Ladies Auxiliary.

“Generations and thousands of Montaukers, East Enders and visitors, young and old, have been cheering on the family-friendly floats for more than half a century,” said Laraine Creegan, executive director of the Montauk Chamber of Commerce.

Three Friends of Erin events lead up to the big parade, including the 15th Annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner Saturday at The Point Bar & Grill from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the Behan’s Grand Marshal Luncheon on March 23 at the Montauk Yacht Club from noon to 3 p.m., where the Grand Marshal is introduced, roasted and presented with the parade sash, top hat and shillelagh — tickets by advance sale by Joan Lycke at the Montauk Laundromat — and the Gala Cocktail Party at Gurney’s Montauk on March 24 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., a premiere fundraising event for the parade that includes a buffet, open bar, live music and a "Pot of Gold" auction. For additional information click here.

During the parade, kids enjoy green face-painting, grabbing foam shamrocks and shillelaghs, and collecting lucky beads and candy tossed from the floats of hometown businesses and fire trucks. Long Island bagpipe bands march in the parade, which starts on Edgemere Street, to South Edison Street and enters Main Street at the east end of town, organizer said.

A variety of hot soups are donated by Montauk restaurants for the soup sale including Montauk Yacht Club, Naturally Good, Inlet Seafood Restaurant and many more

Follow the Montauk Chamber on Twitter on parade day for info and feeds tweeted live from the parade route here.

Patch courtesy photo.