Parade History/Past Grand Marshals

The 2024 Grand Marshal for the Utica St. Patrick's Day Parade will be announced at the GAIF Half Way to the Hooley event on Sunday, January 27th at Harts Hill from 2-6. Please join us for not only the Grand Marshal announcement but the music line up for this years Great American Irish Festival and much more.
The Grand Marshal nomination has been closed. Thank you for all the letters. The City of Utica's St. Patrick's Day Parade was started approximately 36 years ago by Johnnie Oakes and a small group of Irishmen that walked down Varick Street. At that time, the parade consisted of one band and a few vehicles. The parade was later led by a group of gentlemen that assembled at Roger's Coffee Shop known to many as The Rainbow Sportsmen Club. As the parade grew over the years, the Adelphia Cable Cares Club was asked to present the parade.
In 2008 the Great American Irish Festival, an all-volunteer organization, whose primary mission is to promote Irish culture and music was asked to assume the responsibility of parade presenter. This year's event is scheduled for:

Saturday, March 9th, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

The parade is considered one of the largest in New York State. Thousands of local families enjoyed last year's parade which included over 2000 marchers from Canada, Pennsylvania and throughout New York as well as our local favorites.

2024 Grand Marshal:
To be announced at the Half Way to the Hooley function on Jan. 27, 2024.

Past Grand Marshals:
2012 - Patrick Costello
2011 - Honorable Michael Dwyer
2010 - Frank Kealy
2009 - Jim O'Looney
2008 - James Kellmurray
2007 - William Barry
2006 - Tom Coyne
2005 - Dan Murphy
2004 - Mike Austin
2003 - Bill Corrigan
2002 - Jim Simpson
2001 - Rev. Sean O'Brien
2000 - Charley Thomas
1999 - Joe White
1998 - Dan Callahan
1997 - Kevin Kearney
1996 - Barbara Klein
1995 - Michael Simpson
1994 - Vincent Colgan
1993 - Bob Kelly
1992 - Joe Kelly
1991 - Frank Dulan
1990 - James Donovan
1989 - Walter Doyle McIncrow
1988 - Michael McGuirl
1987 - Jack Callahan
1986 - Robert Griffin
1985 - Gerald Darby
1984 - James O'Brien
1983 - Vincent Bannigan
1982 - Howard Welch
1981 - Ray Durr
1980 - John Oakes
1979 - Vincent Corrou Jr.
1978 - Jerome (Jerry) Morgan

John C. Devereux, organizer and Grand Marshal of Utica's first St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1824, was from County Wexford, Ireland