Here's when and where to see St. Patrick's Day parades in NJ

We hope you’ve got your green ready because it’s St. Patrick’s Day parade time here in New Jersey.

By our count, the northern, central and shore regions of the state will host at least 20 parades across 22 days leading up to and following St. Patrick’s Day on Friday, March 17. The fun starts this weekend.

“Us Irish, we’ve turned one day into a season,” said Chip Cavanaugh, chairman of the Belmar/Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which returns to the Jersey Shore on Sunday, March 5.

The Belmar/Lake Como Parade celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and Cavanaugh has been involved since the beginning. His mother, Jackie, was on the original parade committee, and as a teenager he made corned beef sandwiches that were given out on parade day.

“It’s hard to believe (the 50th anniversary) is here already, but it’s great,” said Cavanaugh. “The parade started out as this tiny little hometown parade that’s grown into this huge parade that a lot of people come to see.”

More than 200 groups will be participating in Sunday’s parade, which steps off at 12:30 p.m. from 22nd Avenue and Main Street in Lake Como, and heads north up Main Street through Belmar, ending at Sixth Avenue and Main Street.

How many spectators will be there? That depends on the weather.

“You know, I’ve seen years where it’s been 20,000 and I’ve seen years where it’s been well over (100,000), so I think it varies (based) upon the day,” he said. “But hopefully we’re going to have a good year this year.”

Go: Belmar/Lake Como St. Patrick's Day Parade, 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 5, starting at 22nd Avenue and Main Street, Lake Como; belmarparade.com.

Keep marching

Here are other St. Patrick's Day parades happening in North Jersey, Central Jersey, as well as at the Jersey Shore, listed in chronological order:

Nutley

Organized by the Nutley Irish American Association since 1979, Nutley's St. Patrick's Day Parade kicks off parade season at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 4, down Franklin Avenue; nutleyirish.com.

Rutherford

The Rutherford Irish American Association's sixth annual parade makes its way down Park Avenue starting at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 5; rutherfordirish.com.

Morris County (Morristown)

The first St. Patrick's Day celebration in our nation's history happened in Morristown on March 17, 1780, among militiamen serving under Gen. George Washington, so goes the story on the Morris County St. Patrick's Day parade website. The celebration continues this year starting at noon Saturday, March 11, on South Street; paradeday.com.

Newark

A tradition on the streets of Newark for 88 years and counting, the Newark St. Patrick's Day Parade returns at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 11, starting at Mulberry Street and Raymond Boulevard; newarkstpatricksdayparade.org.

Union County (Union)

The 26th annual Union County St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 11, starting at Commerce and Morris Avenues in Union; uniontownship.com.

Somerville

Originally launched at Duke Island Park in 1984, the St. Patrick's Day Parade moved to downtown Somerville in 1991. More than 30 years later, it continues at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 12, on Main Street; somervillesaintpatricksparade.com.

Ocean County (Seaside Heights)

Due to the weather forecast for Saturday, March 11, the Ocean County festivities have been postponed until Saturday, April 1. The parade begins at Boulevard and J Street in Seaside Heights; ocstpatricksdayparade.com. The parade day committee will also present the Shamrocks by the Sea Irish Festival at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, on the bay in Seaside Park; shamrocksbythesea.com.

West Orange

West Orange's parade celebrates its 70th anniversary on 12:15 p.m. Sunday, March 12, starting at the corner of Mount Pleasant Avenue and Main Street; westorangeparade.com.

Freehold

Part of the Irish Week festivities in the borough, the Freehold Borough Arts Council's St. Patrick's Day Parade starts at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 12, at McLean and Main Streets; downtownfreehold.com.

Asbury Park

The good times return to Asbury Park's waterfront and downtown, with the parade beginning 1 p.m. Sunday, March 12, starting at the north end of the Boardwalk. There's an afterparty featuring Big Bang Baby at the Wonder Bar, Fifth and Ocean Avenues, and the presenting sponsor/parade headquarters is Johnny Mac House of Spirits on Main Street; asburyparkstpatricksparade.com.

Rumson

Rumson's St. Patrick's Day Parade is a relative newcomer to the calendar, having launched in 2013. It returns at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 12, starting at Allen Street and River Road; rumsonstpatricksdayparade.org.

Woodbridge

Established in 1966, the American Irish Association of Woodbridge presents its St. Patrick's Day Parade at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 12, starting at Woodbridge High School, Samuel Lupo Place; amerirish.com.

Bergen County (Bergenfield)

The 41st annual Bergen County St. Patrick's Day Parade starts at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 12, at South Washington Avenue and East Englewood Avenue in Bergenfield; bergencountyirish.org. NorthJersey.com is covering the parade live in case you can't make it. The show kicks off at 2 p.m. and will be hosted by Ryan Ross. He'll chat with parade-goers and organizers, and there also will be a look back at Bergen County St. Patrick's Day parades of years past.

Clinton

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in Hunterdon County's parade starts at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 12, on Main Street in Clinton, followed by an afterparty at the Red Mill Museum Village on Main Street; fssphunterdon.com.

Highlands

The Highlands Business Partnership's 19th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 18, starting at Bay and Waterwitch Avenues; highlandsnj.com.

South Amboy

What started in 1976 with one bagpiper joined by local police, fire and first aid squads and a small group of marchers continues in much grander fashion when the South Amboy St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 19, starting at South Pine Avenue and Louisa Street; southamboyparade.com.

Keyport

The Keyport Fire Department's 16th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 25, starting at Perry Street and Maple Place; visitkeyport.org.

Ringwood

The 32nd annual Ringwood St. Patrick's Day Parade begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 25, starting on Skyline Drive, with Jim Durkin's Memories Music performing on the TD Bank north access road on Skyline Drive; ringwoodnj.net.

Keansburg

Traditionally the final celebration of St. Patrick's Day Parade season, Keansburg brings back its Bayshore bash at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 26, starting at Beachway Avenue and Main Street; facebook.com/KeansburgRec.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: St. Patrick's Day parades in NJ: Belmar celebrates 50th in 2023