St. Patrick’s celebrations canceled in Connecticut
Virtual and car parades will go on
New Haven, Stamford and Essex have joined Hartford in canceling their 2021 St. Patrick’s Day parades, as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This is the second year in a row the annual festivities have been canceled. Last year, they were scuttled on very short notice, as the pandemic bore down upon the state in mid-March.
Still, Connecticut residents who want to bask in Irish festivities and traditions have a few options.
Bridgeport
The traditional parade in Bridgeport has gone virtual for 2021. It will be shown on March 17 at noon on the Facebook page of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Greater Bridgeport and on the YouTube page “St Patricks Day Bridgeport.” Among the festivities is a virtual bagpipe band competition, whose grand prize is $1,500.
“I think it’s the best solution because we want people to continue to be safe and really the best way to do that is to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at home,” said John Brannelly, parade chairperson. “Many of the components of the parade will be featured, Irish step dancing, the bishop is preparing a message for us, Sen. Murphy has submitted a video.”
Performers or marchers who want to submit a video clip to be used in the virtual parade can email the clips to johnbrannellyjr@gmail.com via Google Drive by Feb. 28.
Connecticut-based bagpipe bands that want to compete in the bagpipe competition also should send videos to that address by that date. Competition band videos must be five minutes or shorter. Six bands have signed up so far, Brannelly said.
For full details about the parade and competition, visit st patricksdaybridgeport.com/ 2020⁄12/ st-patricks-day-parade/.
New London
The traditional parade in New London has been turned into a car parade this year, to take place on March 14, it was announced on the website of the Downtown New London Association.
Barbara Neff, executive director of the Downtown New London Association, said anyone who wants to drive their car in the parade can email bj@neffproductions.com for details. Cars should be decorated for the holiday.
“It’s a 10-mile drive through the city with a police escort. We ask people to come out in front of their homes, in their own pods, decorate their houses,” Neff said.
“We feel that way people in their cars are in their own pods and people are watching in front of their homes, so it’s not a large gathering where people come and stand together,” she said.
For a parade route, visit neffproductions.com/event/stpatricks-2021.
Canceled parades
The Greater Hartford St. Patrick’s Day Parade had been scheduled for March 13. That cancellation was announced in December.
The 2022 event has been scheduled for March 12.
The 2021 New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade also has been canceled, it has been announced on its website, stpatricksdayparade.org. The 2022 New Haven parade has been scheduled for March 13.
The annual Essex Go Bragh parade also has been canceled, that organization announced on Facebook on Jan. 11. The 2022 event has been scheduled for March 19.
The Irish-American Cultural Society of Stamford also canceled its annual parade, it was announced on its website on Jan. 24. stamfordstpatricksdayparade.com.
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