Parades, Festivals: Large-Scale NJ Events Make Pandemic Comeback

NEW JERSEY — With numbers taking a downturn following the peak of the omicron variant, many popular gatherings that took a COVID-19 hiatus are readying to return.

As of Friday, the state’s COVID-19 dashboard showed 2,501 new and confirmed cases statewide. This differed from early January when omicron roared through New Jersey, with a daily new case count totals exceeding 30,000.

Many events were canceled with the pandemic’s arrival in 2020, with some also not happening in 2021, because of the New Jersey size limit on outdoor gatherings. Gov. Phil Murphy suggested on Feb. 7 that he saw no reason for parades to be canceled.

“Be responsible. Be smart, particularly when you're indoors,” Murphy said. “But by definition, a parade is outside."

One of the first parades scheduled to return is Nutley's St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 5 at 1 p.m., according to the Nutley Irish American Association. An investiture mass is planned for 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church. A family-friendly Post Parade Party is scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. at 44 Park Ave. Complete details about the parade and its events are here.

Belmar-Lake Como’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is planned for March 6 at 12:30 p.m. The parade is planned to begin on Lake Como’s Main Street and wind down in Belmar. The parade is expected to start with an investiture mass at 10 a.m. at St. Rose Church on Seventh Avenue. A lunch is planned to follow the parade at Dollan’s Shore Club on Route 71 in Spring Lake Heights.

Another one making a return is Morris County’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, its comeback on March 12 at noon.

Morristown’s council has placed some limits on activities that day. It approved 1776 by David Burke’s extension of its outdoor drinking area for the parade at its meeting the day after Murphy’s decision. The Fraternal Order of Eagles club was permitted to hold an indoor event for the public the day of the parade, because it wouldn’t impact public property. It denied The Homestead’s application for a celebration at the Woman’s Club of Morristown parking lot, since it is near residences and could present a noise violation, the council said.

The Original St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Hamilton, starting at the Nottingham Firehouse and marching onto Nottingham Way, is another one expected to return on March 12 at 12:30 p.m. Gerard (Jerry) Sheridan is planned to be Grand Marshal, with Nicole Brown Miss St. Patrick. Sheridan and Brown had been previously picked for 2020, before the 2020 and 2021 parades were canceled.

Woodbridge’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is also planned for March 13, hosted by the Woodbridge American Irish Association. The parade is expected to kick off at 1:30 p.m. at Woodbridge High School and wind down at Town Hall. In lieu of the parade in 2021, parade chair Ben Campbell spearheaded the “Parade of Food,” with the association collecting food for donation to local food pantries.

Hackettstown's St. Patrick's Day Parade is another one planned for March 13, after a two-year hiatus because of COVID-19. The parade, which has typically drawn about 14,000 people to Hackettstown, is expected to happen at 3:30 p.m. A separate pet costume contest is planned. There are events leading up to the parade scheduled, including a pub crawl and reception for the Grand Marshal, Joseph "Joe" Barnes. More information is available here.

Not every St. Patrick’s Day parade has been able to make its 2022 return, Sussex County’s one of them. The Newton Fire Department was passed the baton just before the pandemic began in 2020, after former parade organizers retired from coordinating the popular yearly event in Newton. Jason Miller, the fire department’s chief, told Patch that even with Murphy’s decision, the group would not have been able to organize it on time. It is aiming for a 2023 parade, Miller said.

"As of December 2021 CDC reports of a 500 percent more contagious variant was coming our way," Miller wrote about the 2022 parade plans on Feb. 8. "Having that to contend with and the peaking number at the time we decided to cancel."

"We also had members of our fire department getting sick and being out of service, making planning a big event next to impossible," he added.

After it was virtual in 2021, the Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival is expected to hit the red carpet on April 27 and 28. That starts with a launch party on April 25 at Raymonds, followed by the festival itself at Bow Ties Cinemas on April 27 and 28. The festival after-party is planned at Felina Restaurant on April 28. See more details here.

Michael Arnone’s 31st Annual Crawfish Fest is planning its return at Sussex County Fairgrounds between June 3 and 5. Arnone told Patch the group has been “planning for it all along,” coordinating with talent, eateries and the Sussex County Fairgrounds.

Traditionally held the weekend after Memorial Day, the Fairgrounds saved the date, with the first cancelation in 2020 because of the state’s limits on large gatherings. Arnone canceled the 2021 festival after watching the rise in case numbers nationwide and in Louisiana where he lives. Tickets from the past festivals postponed because of COVID-19 are expected to be honored for the 2022 event.

Arnone said he has stayed in touch with local and state health officials for guidance and guidelines to move plans forward for the event, with Louisiana-style cuisine and musical entertainment, crafters, camping and more.

"We're going to have a great homecoming,” Arnone said.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.