'Long overdue': Devoted volunteer to lead Morristown St. Patrick's Day Parade Saturday

The Morristown St. Patrick's Day Parade, one of New Jersey's biggest, returns this weekend with a longtime volunteer and dedicated fundraiser leading the procession.

Ryan Dawson will serve as grand marshal for this year's parade, which kicks off at noon on Saturday, March 11. Dawson has helped organize the event for the past 13 years, most notably as chairman of its finance committee, and also as a member and past president of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Morris County.

The parade was still on as of Friday afternoon despite a forecast calling for 3 to 4 inches of snow by Saturday morning.

"We are looking forward to stepping off this Saturday at 12 p.m. sharp," said Mike Leavy, a publicity coordinator for the parade committee. "This weather is made for Irish sweaters and Irish coffee!"

More than 4,000 marchers and close to two dozen bands will take part in the parade, which begins on South Street before making its way around the Morristown Green and through town. The day's festivities will get underway with a mass at Assumption Church at 9:30 a.m.

An interactive map on the parade website, paradeday.com, includes a guide to comfort stations and parking around the route. Entertainment will be provided throughout the morning by groups including the Celtic Rebels Band, the Heritage Irish Dance Co. and Morristown High School.

Dawson honored

This year's grand marshal nomination was unusual in that Dawson, in addition to his other parade roles, sits on the event's Board of Trustees, which chooses the recipient of the annual honor. Dawson knew he was in contention but was otherwise in the dark about the board's decision, so he was pleasantly surprised to be added to the prestigious history of grand marshals.

"There's so many legends, and I just feel honored to be in that category now," Dawson said on Tuesday.

Grand marshal selection

A Mendham resident who works for Weichert Realtors, Dawson is the first new grand marshal to be selected in three years. Mary Waller was chosen to lead the 2020 parade, but she did not get to serve until last year after the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the previous two events.

Dawson's prowess in guiding financial matters for the parade set him apart from other candidates, Leavy said. The event is entirely funded through sponsor donations, he said, and the 2023 grand marshal has been "nothing but perfect" in his work.

With "his dedication to the parade and what it stands for, really it was a no-brainer," Leavy said. "Some people say it was long overdue."

Plans for the parade

Dawson said the "pinnacle" of the parade season came Friday when he was officially introduced at the grand marshal reception. He became emotional during remarks from James Weichert Jr. and John Murphy − the latter a former Morris Township politician who served as the 2018 grand marshal − and was happy to see so many close friends and family members in attendance.

On parade day, Dawson will march alongside his wife Melinda, with the couple's parents following in an antique car. His favorite part of each year's parade is greeting the sponsors after the procession ends − an activity that he admitted will be extra special as grand marshal.

The parade was first organized in Wharton in 1979 by the Irish American Association of Northwest Jersey. The group partnered with the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Morris County to move it to Morristown in 1991, where it has become one of the most well-attended St. Patrick's parades in the state.

Kyle Morel is a local reporter covering Morris and Sussex counties.

Email: kmorel@njherald.com; Twitter: @KMorelNJH

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Morristown NJ St. Patrick's Day Parade 2023: What to know