55th Westhampton Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade Delights : Photos

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — Irish eyes were smiling as the 55th Annual Westhampton Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade wended its way through the village Saturday.

The Westhampton Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee named Patty Ziparo-Dalton as the Grand Marshal for 2024.

"Patty was chosen to lead the 55th annual parade because of her community service to the greater Westhampton Beach community," organizers said on the website. "Patty worked for the Westhampton Beach School District as a teacher and athletic director for almost 40 years. She has been a longtime member of the Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance and currently serves as treasurer for the Ambulance. She and her husband, Bill Dalton, ran the local Boy Scouts unit for many years, as well — helping many young people become Eagle Scouts."

"Patty is a perfect example of what the Parade Committee looks for in a Grand Marshal," Tim Laube, committee president, added. "Community service is so important to our town, and Patty embodies that. She has made Westhampton Beach and its surrounding communities a better place for more than 40 years. We are proud to have Patty lead us in 2024."

According to longtime tradition, the Grand Marshal gets to choose the parade theme; Ziparo-Dalton chose this year's theme of "rock, paper, scissor" because it was "a successful and simple mediation technique" she used to get students to settle their differences while she was a physical education teacher at Westhampton Beach, organizers said.

The well-loved parade included pipe bands, fire departments, ambulance units, high school bans, floats, classic cars, marching groups and more.