Tens of thousands of spectators from near and far lined Wantagh Avenue on Sunday as the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, one of the largest celebrations of Irish heritage on Long Island.
Now in its sixth year, the parade drew spectators from across Nassau County and beyond. Chamber officials estimated that attendance was similar to previous years, when the crowd of marchers, officials and spectators has grown to roughly 50,000 people, filling the streets of Wantagh.
The parade stepped off from Wantagh High School and headed south on Wantagh Avenue before ending near Park Avenue, where post-parade festivities continued with live entertainment.
This year’s collective grand marshal was the entire Wantagh Fire Department, in recognition of the volunteer department’s longstanding service to the community. Founded in 1899, the department now has about 200 members and operates out of five firehouses, responding to roughly 2,000 ambulance calls and more than 1,000 fire calls each year.
While the parade celebrates Irish culture, organizers say its appeal reaches far beyond that.
“Whether you’re Irish or not, this parade is for everyone,” State Sen. Steve Rhoads wrote in a statement to the Herald. “It’s a chance to come together, celebrate our community and enjoy a great Long Island tradition.”
