Rockville Centre St. Patrick's Parade Postponed

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY — The Rockville Centre St. Patrick's Parade has been postponed due to concerns about the coronavirus, joining a long list of other parades that have also been affected.

The Parade Committee posted the announcement on the parade's website late yesterday. The parade, the Grand Marshal Dinner and the commemorative Mass are all being postponed.

"Recently, the Parade Board met to discuss the ever-changing situation that is currently taking place and have prioritized the well-being of the valued members of the Rockville Centre community and all those who travel from far and near to join us on this special day," the notice reads. "We hope to be marching up Maple Avenue to celebrate our 2020 Grand Marshal, Ellen White, in the near future."

Follow all the coronavirus updates in New York. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

Nearly every St. Patrick's parade on Long Island has been canceled this week as the coronavirus continues to spread, and people avoid large gatherings.

Though there haven't been any positive cases in Rockville Centre yet, Mayor Francis X. Murray announced that the village would be closing the John A. Anderson Recreation Center, the Sandel Senior Center and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center as a precaution. They will be closed for two weeks starting March 16.