SHERBURNE – On Sunday, Sherburne streets will overflow with green, as community members and area residents come out to take part in a tradition that has spanned more than 30 years – the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Already, 47 units have signed up to take part in this year’s parade, but since participants are accepted right up until the time of the parade, many more could still join in the fun. “We will take marchers the day of the parade,” said one of the parade organizers, Theresa Mastro. Anyone interested in participating is welcome to call Mastro at 674-4573 or co-organizer Kathleen O’Connor at 674-9744, but last minute groups are welcome to join even on the day of the parade.
According to Mastro, Sherburne’s St. Patrick’s Day parade first began in the 1970s, when Denny O’Connor banged a drum and led marchers along the sidewalk from the Sherburne Inn to Lewis’ Restaurant. “After Denny’s passing, that didn’t happen anymore,” Mastro explained, but in 2001, Betty McDaniel decided to pick up the torch and start a real parade.
In 2001, 80 people marched up North Main Street with flags and banners. In 2002, more than 21 groups participated, following a route that began behind the firehouse and traveled up North Main Street to the intersection of Route 12 and 12B. “It has grown each year since then,” Mastro said.
The parade saw its largest participation in 2007, when 54 groups marched through the streets, but with approximately 50 groups already signed up for this year’s parade, and more expected to come out at the last minute, Mastro said she is hoping that record will be broken.
The 50 groups participating in this year’s event will include Irish balloons, the City of Syracuse Highland Pipe Band, Hobart Pipe and Drum, the Claddagh ring Dancers, Avant Garde Independent Drum Corp., the Sherburne-Earlville Winter Guard and an intermission, which will include a performance by a musical group. Seven new groups have signed up to take part in the parade so far. Grand Marshall for the day’s event will be Robert Tenney, who will be accompanied by State Assemblyman William Magee. Mastro explained that the star of the day, St. Patrick himself will be on hand to participate in the festivities.
Following the parade, a St. Patrick’s Day celebration will be held at the Fox Run Event Center on Route 12B in Sherburne. There will be no cover charge for the event. Food and beverages will be available on a cash basis. The musical group Glenravel, featuring singer Mike Carnrike, will perform at the event. Other activities will include performances by the City of Syracuse Highland Pipe Band and the Edward P. Maloney Pipe Band. Leprechauns will be on hand to give out tickets for a free children’s raffle for six pots of gold.
The St. Patrick’s Day parade is always a popular event in Sherburne, but Mastro explained the weather always plays a big part in determining how many people come out to enjoy it. “We always hope for good weather, and the forecast looks good for Sunday so far,” Mastro said. Temperatures on Sunday are expected to reach 50 degrees, but even if the weather does become a factor, Mastro said the only thing that really changes is whether spectators are sitting in their cars or lining the streets.
This year’s parade will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday. Line up starts behind the Sherburne Fire Department on West State Street, proceeds up North Main Street and disbands at The Cotton Mill parking lot. Mastro said the committee would like to thank Village Mayor William Acee, the village trustees and the Sherburne Police and Fire Department “for their support each year for this great event.”