Gerritsen Beach celebrated its annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, evolving from humble beginnings in 2010 under Jim Donovan's leadership. Initially inspired by his father's deathbed wish for a parade, Donovan faced skepticism but persevered, navigating regulatory challenges to launch the event despite severe weather. Now, in 2025, the parade is a beloved local tradition, with increased community support, raising over $3,400, significantly more than in past years. This year’s event bore witness to heightened excitement and readiness, reflecting the parade's growth from a volunteer-driven effort to a more organized celebration with online fundraising for performers.
My dad had gotten into an accident, and on his deathbed, he said he wanted a parade. He died in February of 2010, and I said, 'Okay, let's have a parade.' Everyone I spoke to told me, 'You can't do it. They're never gonna let you do it.' But I don't take no for an answer, and I never did.
The flags were flying all over the place, but we just kept going. There were 40-something trees down across Brooklyn... They kept the music and the party going.
It's different this year. There was a lot of buzz. People kept asking, 'When's the parade?' We've raised about $3,400 this year, which we've never done before.
What began as a volunteer-driven event now includes an online fundraiser to compensate performers for their time.
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