The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade on record in Somerville was held in 1984. It began at Duke Island Park and traveled to downtown Somerville. The parade remained like this for several years until the organization could no longer continue. The original parade had co-grand marshals: Tom Lavin, the founder of the local division of the AOH and Msgr. John Torney the pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Bernardsville.
In 1991 a new committee formed and held its first parade the following year. Its new route began and commenced on Main Street in Somerville, making it much more appealing to both bands and spectators. Over the years, many people have helped coordinate the parade. To view the current parade committee and some significant past contributors click here. Each year the parade committee elects a person to be the Grand Marshal of the Somerville Saint Patrick’s Parade. This honor is awarded to a member of the community that has had a significant positive social impact on the community as a whole, and who exhibits a good representation of Christian values. To see a list of the distinguished individuals who have been honored click here.
The committee is entirely made up of volunteers who dedicate numerous hours during the year in order to keep the parade operating for future years. We are always in search of enthusiastic hard-working volunteers to serve on the committee or assist with operations on Parade Day.
In recent years, the parade committee has obtained key corporate sponsors which have allowed our organization to expand the number of paid entertainment participation. In 2010, given the difficulties seen throughout the state at other parades, the Somerville Parade Committee adopted a motto which sums up our expectations for the parade, participants and spectators; The Somerville Parade is a free family friendly event. This motto guides our decisions and allows our sponsors to know that they are participating in something positive for the community. Each year, we strive to improve the parade for our spectators, participants and sponsors.
