St. Patrick's Parade returns to much fanfare

The “Parade that Shares and Cares” returned this past Saturday to Rockville Centre’s streets, drawing several hundred onlookers for the first time since 2019. Firefighters, police, local businesses, schools and organizations took to Maple Avenue hopefully ringing in the return of normal festivities like this one again.

The 25th RVC St. Patrick’s Parade continued the tradition of highlighting and donating to three charities: one local, one national, and one Irish-based. This year, the parade committee chose the Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition, the Army Ranger Lead the Way Fund, and the Holy Family School for the Deaf. As many of the parade committee organizers and Grand Marshall Ellen White know, the parade plays a pivotal role in introducing these charities to some residents for the first time. White’s Backyard Players were highlighted in 2017 and have grown enough to move into a new building on North Long Beach Road.

“It was like walking on a cloud,” White said. “The joy that was coming from people watching and cheering made it an amazing experience.

Local officials watched from the viewing stand in front of St. Agnes Cathedral as ornate floats passed by to the cheers of hundreds.