The Asbury Park St Patrick’s Day Parade, scheduled for March 12, is posthumously honoring Sammy Boyd by naming him as the 2023 Grand Marshal.
Boyd will be represented in the parade by family and friends. Boyd had always made sure to give back to the city of Asbury Park in any way he could. From raising funds and awareness for both local and national charities through music to enrich the community and to benefit the children of the city. It didn’t matter if he was selling condos, spinning pizzas on the boardwalk or producing a show in a club or theatre, he always had a smile on his face and made it his job to make others smile with him.
Boyd’s connections to Asbury Park go back to his youth as an usher in Convention Hall, musician, agent, club owner to most recently opening Maruca’s Pizza on the boardwalk. Boyd has been recognized by the music community as the recipient of the Living Legend Award and honored by the AP Chamber of Commerce with the Spirit of Asbury Park Award.
In 2014, when the parade was just a thought, Garret Giberson recruited Boyd and John McGillion to help bring the parade to fruition. Boyd helped lead the parade to great success, attracting tens of thousands to Asbury Park the second Sunday of every March.
This year will be the ninth parade for Asbury Park and both the parade and crowd grow each year. The parade committee has crafted a parade that combines all the traditional elements of a St. Patrick’s Day Parade while reflecting the uniqueness of our city by the sea.
Each year there is a local level participation that includes honoring veterans, local Boy and Girl Scouts Chapters, dance schools, high school marching bands, police, first responders and police as well as representation to just a few of the things that make us unique like Second Hand Bikes, animal rescues, floats featuring live performances, zombies and the LakeHouse Music students.
The parade welcomes award-winning mummers as well good old fashioned parade elements like juggling clowns, men on stilts and most importantly pipes and drum organizations from around the state.
Several fundraisers are planned in the next few weeks.
Thur., Jan 26: Finnegan’s Wake at Cross and Orange 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $20. Performing will be 3 Sheets to the Wind featuring Kevin Feehan, John Rafferty, Gerry Gironda, Ed Soles and Special Guests Price includes 1 drink ticket for beer or wine and hot buffet Sun., Feb 5: Green Dragon Buffet at Taka 11 a.m. to 2p.m. Tickets are $25 and include one drink ticket.
Sun., Feb 19: Lucky Leprechaun Brunch at Kim Maries 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Traditional Breakfast Menu as well as Irish themed food and drinks. Price includes one Bloody Mary or Mimosa (21 and up) and buffet
Sun., Feb 26 ShamRock and Roll at the Wonder Bar 2 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $20. Performing will be Pat Roddy, Jo Bonanno, Bob Polding and more to be announced.
