Getting ready for St. Patrick's Day Parade

NEWTON — The Sussex County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has announced that Betsy (Reilly) Sutherland has been selected as the Grand Marshal of the 15th Annual Sussex County St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
“I am deeply humbled to be honored by the Parade Committee to lead their 15th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Sussex County,” stated Mrs. Sutherland. “Having the parade fall on actual St. Patrick’s Day will make it extra special this year.”
Events leading up to the parade are as follows:
Grand Marshal's luncheon, Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2 pm:
The 15th Annual Grand Marshal’s Luncheon honoring Betsy Sutherland, will be held on Sunday, February 18, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Irish Cottage Inn located at 602 Route 23 North, Franklin, New Jersey. The Grand Event includes entertainment, recognition of our Grand Marshal and lots of great craic; including a Tricky Tray and a Fifty/Fifty Raffle! The traditional presentation of the Grand Marshal’s Sash will follow. It has become a practice that the Grand Marshal designates a charity to receive the net proceeds of the St. Patrick’s Day charitable events. Accordingly, Betsy chose Birth Haven as the 2018 beneficiary.
Please make your reservation, $60 per person, at least a month in advance as seating is limited.
Mass and traditional Irish breakfast, Saturday, March 3:
A Mass honoring St. Patrick, the Patron St. of Ireland, will be held at St. Jude the Apostle Church located at 4-24 Beaver Run Road, Hamburg, New Jersey at 8:30 AM on Saturday, March 3.
Following Mass, there will be a Traditional Irish Breakfast at the Irish Cottage Inn, located at 602 Route 23, Franklin, New Jersey. A Traditional Irish Breakfast includes: bangers (Irish sausages), rashers (Irish bacon), eggs, potatoes, beans, black pudding, white pudding, tomato, and brown bread. Approximate starting time 10 AM.
This event is a big attraction; so make your reservations, $15 per person in advance, $20 at the door.
St. Patrick's Day Parade, Saturday, March 17
Please also join us at the main event, the 15th annual Sussex County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Newton on Saturday, March 17, when Betsy Sutherland and the Sutherland and Reilly Clans including guests will lead more than 900 marchers down Spring Street, Newton in front of thousands of spectators.
The Parade steps off at 11:30 from Spring Street near Stuart Street; proceeding up Spring Street then turning right onto Moran Street to Memory Park where it will disband. Spring Street will be closed at 10:00 a.m. from Union Place to Moran Street. Parade units will stage starting at 9:00 a.m. in the lot located adjacent to Camp Iliff and the former site of the old Moose Lodge on Spring Street. Fire Department and Ambulance Squad units are instructed to stage on Halsted Street near the middle school; but not on school property.
The Parade will feature nearly 100 units, including: Past Grand Marshals, New Jersey State, County and Local Dignitaries, bands, floats, police, fire and other emergency response vehicles, military personnel and their vehicles, pipe and drum bands, girl and boy scouts, local schools, antique vehicles, county and local pageant winners including the Queens of the Fair, and Irish step dancers.
In the past, several thousand spectators have gathered along Spring Street to watch the floats, bands, marching units, dance groups, animal organizations, novelty entities, and motorized units.
The children's favorites – Irish theme characters and animals, free treats, will be components of the Parade. Please be alert that children do not dash out into Parade traffic.
We are pleased to announce that Mark Hontz will again be our Parade M.C. Mark is a favorite of the spectators and Parade participants alike. He has a pleasant way of warming up the crowd with his wit, Celtic songs and self-accompaniment on his bagpipes; not to mention Mark’s charming commentary as the Parade units pass by the reviewing stand on Spring Street.
For more information on the Parade and attendant activities, call Dennis Harrington, Chairman at (973) 827-9179 or visit our website at sussexcountynjirish.com/ or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SussexCoStPatricksDayParade/ .