While planning for this year’s St. Patrick’s Parade in Morristown continues, the bagpipes will not be sounding on the streets of Hoboken this year. According to news reports, what would have been Hoboken’s 26th St. Patrick’s Parade was cancelled after the city’s parade committee refused to go along with the mayor’s plan to move the parade from a Saturday to a weekday. The Hoboken parade reportedly had become as famed for its drunken celebrations as its shamrocks, with 34 people arrested after last year’s parade.
“The City of Hoboken’s inability to protect our spectators, bands and participants led us to this heartbreaking decision,” the Hoboken St. Patrick’s Parade Committee said on its website. “The idea of marching in a parade, in the dark, on a week night, is as insulting as it is unreasonable.”
The committee invited everyone to worship at its Irish Mass honoring St. Patrick on Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. at Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church.
Meanwhile, Morristown’s parade will go on as scheduled on March 10.
“The St. Patrick’s Parade has been a tradition in Hoboken for 26 years; it is a shame that many have to suffer for the actions of a few,” the Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade Trustee Committee said in a press release. “We are fortunate to have a well-trained police force in Morristown that handles situations that arise throughout the year. The Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade Committee strives to run a family-friendly, safe event.
“We wish the Hoboken parade committee and citizens well and hope the Irish Mass honoring Saint Patrick will be well-attended.”
“The Hoboken parade reportedly had become as famed for its drunken celebrations as its shamrocks, with 34 people arrested after last year’s parade. ”
The Hoboken parade sounds more fun.