Sláinte! St. Patrick’s Day parade returns

A sea of green –– made up of an estimated scores of thousands of visitors –– lined the sidewalks of Wantagh Avenue on Sunday as leprechaun-shaped balloons, gold-tinted cars and first responders paraded down the street.

As the Wantagh and Seaford Fire Department’s pipe bands played traditional Celtic tunes, a parader in a leprechaun outfit tossed chocolates into the street and children scampered to grab them. School district parents cheered as the Wantagh High School marching band made its way down the street, and a fellow in a faux neon orange beard smiled and took a sip of a brown malt liquor.

The Wantagh Chamber of Commerce’s second annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade — originally set for March 2020 — was canceled two years in a row, thwarted by the pandemic.

But Sunday’s event seemingly made up for it: a substantial crowd of residents from Wantagh, Seaford and beyond attended the parade at 2 p.m. and a block party that followed at 4.

“It feels great to celebrate life!” Cathy McGrory Powell, Wantagh Chamber of Commerce president, exclaimed before the parade. “That’s what we need to do. Be joyous and find the silver lining in all of this, and thank all the people who attend –– our scouts, our businesses, our police, our military –– we have an incredible community.”

The parade was also an opportunity to thank first responders, Powell added, who have kept the community safe. “For two years in a row, Nassau County is the safest county, and I believe we’re coming up on the third year,” she noted, referring to a U.S. News & World Report ranking.

Support for police was visible in the float operated by Project Thank A Cop. Colorful paper handprints crafted by elementary-school students adorned the float. Project Thank A Cop President Maegan Fox said kids were asked to trace their handprints on paper and write, in one word, what police means to them. “These are all from the heart — they weren’t manufactured,” Fox, a resident of Wantagh, said.

Sky High Balloon in Wantagh brought plenty of pizzazz to the parade. Irish flags made of balloons, balloons shaped like pots of gold at the end of rainbows and plenty of little Irish gnomes followed Sky High owner Christine Masi, who wore a llama costume made of balloons.

“This is absolutely amazing,” said Masi, who created most of the balloon pieces herself in her store. “We couldn’t make the first parade, so we’re especially glad to be a part of the festivities.” All of the balloon marchers were friends, employees or relatives, she said.

Christopher Kaufman, owner of the Wantagh-based Realty Advisors, had been “ready for two years,” he said, with a colorful float advertising the business that was built in 2020 which had been in storage. “We’ve just been waiting, and the time’s finally come,” Kaufman said.

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, 59, waited over two years to walk in the parade as the grand marshal. He was all smiles on Sunday as he strutted alongside 2019 Grand Marshal John Murray Jr., owner of Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall.

The parade, which hosted over 100 floats, groups and parties, began at Wantagh High School and made its way down Beltagh Avenue to Wantagh Avenue and from there to Railroad Avenue. See more photos online at LIHerald.com/wantagh.