St. Patrick Day Festivities to be Held Today

The 38th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will march through Woodbridge Proper today. 

The festivities start at 9 am with the presentation of proclamations to the day's honorees and the raising of the Irish flag at Town Hall. Mayor John McCormac and the town council will be on hand for the celebration.

Later, at 1:30 pm, the parade begins from Woodbridge High School and proceeds  down Freeman St. to Linden Ave. The parade route continues to Amboy Ave, turns left on Main St., and concludes at Town Hall.

More than 80 marching units are expected in the celebration, including traditional Irish Pipe Bands and marching bands representing all three Woodbridge Township high schools. Also on the parade roster are Irish-themed parade floats and displays, representatives from township fire departments, first aid and emergency response squads, members of Woodbridge scouting organizations, and community, civic, sports, and neighborhood associations.

Thomas P. Giblin will serve as grand marshal and Patrick Egan as chairman for the parade, which is being sponsored by the American Irish Association of Woodbridge. The 2011 American Irish honorees include: Veronica Welch as Irish Woman of the Year; James A Kerins as Irish Man of the Year; Kelly Vasquez as Miss American Irish; and Danielle Egan as the Irish Lady-in-Waiting.