Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner To Lead Miller Place-Rocky Point St. Patrick's Day Parade

ROCKY POINT, NY — Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner has been named by the Friends of St. Patrick as the 74th grand marshal of the Miller Place-Rocky Point next month.

The parade, scheduled to take place on Sunday, March, is known as one of the longest parades on Long Island, stretching 2.8 miles from Miller Place to Rocky Point, and is the second-longest-running parade in Suffolk County.

During a recent Town Board meeting, Bonner was bestowed with the sash worn by her predecessor, Vincent Worthington, who served in the role in 2024. She is the fourth woman to hold the title of grand marshal in the parade’s history, and the first individual woman to receive the honor.

Bonner called the news "an incredible honor," adding that she is "deeply grateful to the Friends of St. Patrick for this nomination."

“Being named grand marshal of such a long-standing and meaningful community tradition is truly humbling, and I look forward to celebrating alongside residents, families, and volunteers who make this parade so special each year," she said.

Founded in 1949 by John M. Sullivan and George Faulkner, the Friends of St. Patrick is a not-for-profit organization that launched its first Miller Place to Rocky Point St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1950 with the goal of bringing the community together at the close of winter.

While the parade has grown from a small local gathering into one of Suffolk’s largest and most anticipated annual celebrations, drawing tens of thousands of spectators, its mission of celebrating tradition, community, and Irish heritage has remained unchanged, officials said.

The organization relies on community fundraising efforts throughout the year, like its dinner dance fundraiser, which will be held on Feb. 21 at the Moose Lodge in Mount Sinai.