WAPPINGERS FALLS – The 29th annual Dutchess County St. Patrick’s Parade is on Saturday, March 2 at 1 p.m. in the Village of Wappingers Falls. The parade, which draws thousands of spectators each year, features Andrew O’Grady, CEO of Mental Health America Dutchess County as Grand Marshal. O’Grady will be quite recognizable considering that recent travel has converted him into the parade’s tallest red leprechaun.
O’Grady was one of several nominees made to the parade committee and he has been excited since learning of his selection more than a month ago. “I’ve spent the last 32 years working in the field of mental health to serve the people of Dutchess County. I’ve been honored to be able to work with policymakers to try to improve our system of care. Doing all this for the people of Dutchess County as a whole has been an honor. To be able to be the Grand Marshall of the Dutchess County parade is incredible and the fact that it’s for St. Patrick’s Day is even better.” Recalling his formative years that have culminated in his leading of the 2024 parade, O’Grady said, “I had to listen to every teacher throughout my school years, call out my name on the first day, then saying ‘you’re not Irish, are you?’ That was my penance and now I get to be the Grand Marshal of the largest parade in the area.”
Parade Committee Chairman Gene Noone said that this year’s parade is shaping up to be the largest yet. “We’ve got 17 floats, 11 marching bands, multiple fire departments, and several groups that asked to be in the parade because of Andrew O’Grady.”
The chairman also announced that a shuttle service will be available as a result of a collaboration with the Wappinger Central School District. To alleviate congestion in and near the parade route, attendees can board a shuttle bus at the South Hills Mall on Route 9D or the Wappinger Middle School on Middlebush Road beginning at 10:45 a.m. The buses will pick up passengers and make stops at North Street and Mesier Park, both of which are along the parade route. The service will run until 12:15 pm to get people to the parade. Following the parade, the shuttles will transport passengers from North Street and Mesier Park from 3:15 p.m. until approximately 5 p.m.
Attendees who choose not to take a shuttle can find parking at The Home Depot/Imperial Plaza parking lot. Addressing those parking across Route 9, members of the Wappingers Falls Police Department issued a reminder that pedestrians are strongly encouraged to use the sidewalks and crosswalks while the roadways are open to vehicle traffic.
A video highlight from the 2022 parade can be found in this story.
