ATLANTIC CITY — Whether it was raining, snowing, sleeting, hailing — whatever the weather called for Saturday — locals like Northfield resident Jessie Tallas would have still made their way to the Boardwalk for the city’s annual St. Patrick’s parade.
Many shared that sentiment, which was evident by the thousands of people spread sporadically throughout the parade’s 2-mile route on the Boardwalk before its 1 p.m.-ish start time.
“Everybody’s always in a good mood on parade day. And it’s not one of those holidays that you have to do much, like Thanksgiving or Christmas. You can sit on the Boardwalk, watch the floats go by, the kids get their candies and tchotchkes, and I have good reason to day drink,” said Tallas, 44, who attended his 10th parade in his Kelly green New Jersey Devils jersey with about six or seven family members and friends who wore orange and white.
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“I’ve never had a bad parade day, so if you’re having a bad time at the parade, it’s most likely your fault.”
About 120 walking groups and other acts paraded from 500 Boardwalk, around Ocean Resort Casino, down to Albany Avenue, near Stockton University.
Many people bundled up to endure Saturday’s blustery winds and temperatures in the 40s. Some drizzle started at about 2 p.m., but the downpours held off until about 15 minutes after the parade ended at 2:30. Others donned tutus, shamrocks, Philadelphia Eagles gear and other apparel in varying shades of Irish green, happily sipped on Guinness, Jameson and other boozy beverages while the parade made its way through the resort.
Young Irish step dancers clacked their shoes against the boards to the Irish jigs eight-string and four pipe-and-drum bands performed.
Other parade participants threw candy, green Mardi Gras-style beads and merchandise to the crowd.
Grand marshals Kelsey Grammer, star of TV’s “Frasier,” and Steve Troiano, owner of Maynard’s Café in Margate and a longtime supporter of community causes, smiled as they waved from golf carts, while Mayor Marty Small Sr. opted to walk ahead of his vehicle while wearing an Eagles sweatband, hoodie and sweatpants, all in Kelly Green.
“I’m Irish, so I like celebrating my family’s Irish culture,” said David Robinson, who was making his way along the Boardwalk before marching with his family in the parade, representing the Bryson family’s Wench Brigade. “I wouldn’t miss the parade for the world. And it’s a family-friendly way to celebrate and have fun.”
Saturday’s parade was the 36th annual event.
The parade that’s been held since 1986 has only been cancelled twice, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in its history, according to volunteer members on the Atlantic City St. Patrick’s Day committee. The committee is a 501©3 nonprofit group consisting of a dozen members who organize the event annually.
One of the 12 parade committee members, Scott Evans, the city’s Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Management, said the parade was a labor of love for the committee.
It was also a collaborative effort among the committee, city, South Jersey Transportation Association, Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and the event’s dozens of other sponsors.
“This parade alone probably generates a lot of money for the city. And you have people driving down, staying the day or the weekend, spending money at local businesses, because people want to support local. It really helps the city’s economy,” Northfield’s Tallas added.
Since the parade’s inception, it has been historically held the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day to generate revenue and drive visitors to the resort during the offseason. It is estimated to generate about $3 million in revenue, according to data gathered by the parade committee.
Each year, the parade brings in thousands of visitors to the resort. Although the event last year was planned in about a month and was shorter than in previous years, it still bought in roughly 44,000 attendees. About 77,000 people were expected to enter the resort over the weekend, according to the committee’s data.
“It’s a once-a-year tradition. Once a year, we get together,” said Manahawkin resident Carissa Wilcox, who booked a jitney with a friend from Little Egg Harbor Township, Penny Martin, along with about 16 to 20 other friends. “We probably don’t see each other all year, so its’s nice to bring the kids. And now that they’re older, they kind of do their own thing. But we’re South Jersey girls, so we want to celebrate the parade where we’re from.”
Martin has been coming to the parade for the past 18 years, with their largest group over the years being about 50 people. The average group number for parade attendees is six, according to the committee.
Although Wilcox’s group goes home at the end of the day, the friends still make it a point to stop by local bars, like Back Bay Ale House or the Irish Pub & Inn, hit the casinos, and venture throughout the city.
“Everyone has this taboo idea of Atlantic City, so it’s nice to show them that it’s far from that,” added Wilcox. “And you got to love Atlantic City — plus the people watching — and just getting to know different people that you wouldn’t get to know or talk to otherwise.”
Medford Lakes resident Sue Wingert attended the parade for the first time with her daughter who just turned 21, Angela, and 10 others for a “girls weekend.” She said the parade was a good way to get to know the city’s community and culture, besides sharing camaraderie with the group.
“I used to go to the Boardwalk all the time as a kid, so doing this now, with my daughter, you get to see the restored faith in Atlantic City through the culture, diversity and all the people you get to know,” Wingert said. “I love that Atlantic City does this parade. So kudos to the administration and the people that make the parade possible.”
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