The 20th annual St. Pat’s for All Parade takes place on Sunday, March 3, from 43rd Street on Skillman Avenue in Sunnyside to 58th Street and Woodside Avenue, starting at noon.
Over 100 groups are registered and include Irish organizations, pipe bands, puppets, scouts, immigrant and LGBT community groups. New York officials confirmed to march include New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, City Comptroller Scott Stringer, State Senators Mike Gianaris and Jessica Ramos, New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, and Council Members Danny Dromm and Jimmy Van Bramer. Irish Consul General Ciarán Madden will also be marching.
This year’s grand marshals are Fionnula Flanagan, currently starring on Broadway in The Ferryman, and dancer-choreographer Sean Curran.
St. Pat’s for All will highlight 2019 anniversaries. The Irish LGBT group Lavender and Green Alliance celebrate years and St. Pat’s for All celebrates 20 years.
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Sunday is #StPatsforAll, the parade that celebrates the diversity of New York's Irish and Irish American communities. Come one, come all to #Sunnyside to cheer, march, and spread the https://t.co/spNtAgQzJ3 pic.twitter.com/0w7AS461sX
— Irish Arts Center (@IrishArtsCenter) March 1, 2019
“At the parade, we carry signs of support for fellow immigrants, our neighbors and friends who await immigration reform. St. Pat’s for All brings us together in solidarity and support,” said founder and co-chair Brendan Fay.
“St. Pat’s for All welcomes Irish immigrants and all the immigrant communities in Queens to celebrate our shared history of immigration. We especially remember the children at our border who have been separated from their families and continue to wait for justice and humane treatment,” said co-chair Kathleen Walsh-D’Arcy.
Among those registered to march are Irish organizations, immigrant communities, civic groups and LBGT groups. Irish groups include the Brehon Law Society, the Irish Arts Center, Irish Repertory Theater, Irish American Writers and Artists, Co. Laois, the Shannon Gaels, O'Donnell Academy of Irish Dance and the Niall O’ Leary School of Dance.
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Proud to proclaim today as St. Pat's For All Day in NYC. Here in Queens we celebrate the rich diversity and inclusion of our great city. #StPatsforAll pic.twitter.com/F4AQCDS5uU
— NYC Mayor's CAU (@mayorsCAU) March 4, 2018
Among the bands is the Co. Cork Pipe Band, the Pipers of the FDNY, I.S. 230 Marching Band, the Rude Mechanical Orchestra, the Absurdist Pipe Band, and the Lesbian and Gay Big Apple Corps Marching Band. LGBT groups include the Lavender and Green Alliance, Dignity NY, Queens Pride, Pride For Youth, FDNY FireFLAG/EMS and Out Rockaway.
St. Pat’s For All began in 1999 when the exclusion of the Irish LGBT group Lavender and Green Alliance from other St. Patrick’s parades inspired the multicultural celebration of Irish heritage in Queens.
“Our response was to create a parade to welcome all. For 20 years St Pat’s for All has become known as the Irish parade of warm welcomes,” said Fay.
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