Irish Week Kicks Off In Freehold With St. Patrick's Day Parade

FREEHOLD, NJ — Irish Week in Freehold begins this Sunday, March 12, with the Freehold Borough Arts Council’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. And festivities continue all week with the Flavor of Freehold and Pub Crawl events later in the week.

According to Jeff Friedman of the Arts Council, the parade is on for Sunday. At least one parade Saturday in Ocean County - Seaside Heights - was postponed for weather.

But Freehold is on, he said Thursday.

The marching group check-in is at McLean Street at 11:30 a.m. and the parade start time is 12:30 p.m., organizers say.

The parade runs from West Main down Main Street, ending at the Freehold Elks Lodge, 1454 Point. Visit the Freehold Borough Arts Council website to learn more about the parade organization.

The Freehold Borough Arts Council, the Ancient Order of Hibernians Div. 16, the Freehold Police Department, Freehold Colombian Club, Freehold Elks and others are all joining forces to make the parade a success.

This year's parade grand marshal is Tom Hayes of New Jersey Natural Gas Co. The community marshal is Bill Madden of the Freehold First Aid Squad, according to Jeff Friedman of the Freehold Borough Arts Council.

And along with the parade, there will be various best-dressed and best-decorated contests: There is Best-Dressed Baby Under 3, Best-Dressed Dog, Best-Dressed Adult and Best-Decorated Bicycle and Motorcycle. There will also be a 50-50 drawing.

There will be food for purchase and entertainment after the parade at the Elks (1 p.m.-6 p.m., music by Junkyard Dawgs); the Knights of Columbus (1 p.m., Jimmy & Gene's McMahon Clan); and the American Hotel ("2 p.m.-ish," the Eddie Testa Band).

The parade organizers say the American Legion is "graciously opening their doors" for the use of restrooms and is donating the electric for audio equipment at the lineup. The American Legion is at 62. W. Main St., and people also are invited to stop in there, they say.

It's advised that visitors to the parade park at borough and other public parking lots - not in private lots, the parade organizers say.

More events during Freehold's Irish Week

The parade is just the beginning of the fun in Freehold that week. Downtown Freehold has more in store:

• "Flavor of Freehold" is Wednesday, March 15, at $20 per person. This is a "unique tour of downtown Freehold’s venerable restaurants, bars and shops" that will be held over two days. Participants walk from eatery to eatery with their “Shamrock Passport” as a guide. Everyone will receive signature samples from some of Freehold’s most popular establishments. There also will be bagpipers performing to establish a festive atmosphere. Buy tickets in advance on the Downtown Freehold website.

The website notes participants should print or screen shot their confirmation email to check in and redeem the Shamrock Passport at the DowntownFreehold.com Gazebo in front of 10 E. Main St.

• Pub Crawl: Festivities continue with the Pub Crawl on Thursday, March 16, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Beer Crawl is $25 per person, the Scotch Crawl is $50 per person, according to Downtown Freehold. Get tickets in advance at the website. Pub Crawl will take place at iconic establishments such as The American Hotel, Federici’s, Court Jester, Metropolitan Café, and the new Artis Brewery (6oz. craft beer samples). Patrons can choose from an exclusive beer or Scotch tasting and again enjoy the celebration to the sounds of bagpipes. ID will be required.

That brings us to St. Patrick's Day itself, Friday, March 17. And Downtown Freehold says that's the day to check out the specials at a favorite Freehold restaurant.