57th Montauk Friends Of Erin St. Patrick's Day Parade Coming Soon

MONTAUK, NY — All roads will lead to Montauk on Sunday, March 24 as the 57th Montauk Friends of Erin St. Patrick's Day Parade draws a festive crowd to enjoy the fun.

According to the Montauk Chamber of Commerce, the parade was founded in 1962 to “bring the dreary winter to an end."

The 2019 grand marshal, Montauk attorney Gordon G. Ryan, will lead the parade at noon.

“For 57 years, generations of Montaukers, East Enders and visitors come to downtown Montauk to cheer on the family-friendly floats, marchers and welcome the spring season,” Laraine Creegan, executive director, Montauk Chamber of Commerce, said.

One of the most heartwarming highlights of the event takes place on parade day when Chamber members ladle out hot soup donated by Montauk restaurants for sale in parade commemorative mugs. The delicious fun kicks at 10 a.m. on Sunday and the soup is served starting at 11 a.m. Mugs may be purchased in advance at the Chamber office beginning on March 22.

Three Friends of Erin fundraisers lead up to the big parade: The first takes place on March 9, with the 16th Annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner at The Point Bar & Grill from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Next, on March 22 from noon to 3 p.m., the Grand Marshal Luncheon unfolds at Gurney’s Star Island Resort and Marina, where the Grand Marshal is introduced, roasted and presented with the parade sash, top hat and shillelagh, or Irish walking stick. That popular event is hosted by Joan Lycke, a past grand marshal. Purchase tickets in advance only at Montauk Laundromat.

On March 23, the Gala Cocktail Party, one of the parade's main fundraisers, is slated for Gurney’s Montauk Resort and Seawater Spa, beginning at 6 p.m. The event includes a buffet, open bar, live music and a "Pot of Gold" raffle. For information and tickets, click here.

During the parade, kids traditionally enjoy green face-painting, reaching for foam shamrocks and shillelaghs, and gathering lucky beads and candy tossed from the floats of hometown businesses and firetrucks. Each year, Long Island bagpipe bands come out to march.

The parade begins on Edgemere Street, heads to South Edison Street and enters Main Street at the east end of town.