The Glen Cove Saint Patrick’s Day Parade has been scheduled for Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 1 pm.  Founded in 1989, the parade is the premier St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Long Island.  It occurs each year on the Sunday after St. Patrick’s Day and is a joyous first sign of Spring for Long Islanders and visitors.

The 2026 parade’s grand marshal is John Cronin, an award-winning entrepreneur, inspiring public speaker, and passionate advocate for people with differing abilities. Born with Down syndrome, John created his own path by co-founding John’s Crazy Socks, John is spreading happiness and showing what people with differing abilities can achieve. His joy is contagious — and purposeful — and his story inspires audiences worldwide. 

John serves as Chief Happiness Officer and the heart of the brand. He’s also the co-founder of Abilities Rising, a movement-building venture that champions inclusion through storytelling, employment, and joyful business.

The Aides to the Grand Marshal are dedicated local Hibernians Eileen Petrucci Flanagan and and Marianne Fleischer.

After paying the Parade’s expenses, all surplus funds raised through our fundraising efforts are donated to charity. Grand Marshal John Cronin has chosen the ACDS Foundation as our beneficiary this year. Based in Plainview, ACDS provides a lifecycle of services with the goal of helping individuals develop to their fullest potential. 

The Parade begins at 12 noon in the area of the Finley Middle School at Forest Avenue and Dosoris Lane in Glen Cove. It steps off at 1 p.m. and proceeds through the streets of downtown Glen Cove. There is ample parking at Glen Cove’s downtown municipal parking garages, and parking will be available at St. Patrick’s lot on a first-come basis.  A shuttle bus will circulate through the parking, formation, and spectator areas.

An After-Parade Party takes place at St. Patrick’s Parish Hall at the end of the Parade route.

As always, the heart of the parade will be its exciting mix of marching groups, including bands of Irish pipers and other musicians, vintage cars, costumed performers, fire and police units, and much more. The parade is a true community celebration, with marching groups from the Irish and the many other ethnic groupings of our community participating. Everyone is invited to join the fun!

The Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade receives NO public or municipal financial support.  It depends solely on tax-deductible corporate sponsorship and individual donations to the Glen Cove Parade Committee Inc.  Please visit glencoveparade.com to review tax-deductible support opportunities. 

For more information, please visit the parade website at www.glencoveparade.com, call or text 516-782-7494, or email anpiobaire@aol.com.  The Glen Cove Parade Committee, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) charitable corporation, and all contributions are tax-deductible.

 

Past and Present Grand Marshals

It is our custom each year to honor a person as “Grand Marshal” of the Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and one or more additional individuals as “Aides to the Grand Marshal’:

1989 John F. Sweeney Postmaster, City of Glen Cove
1990 P.O. Stephen McDonald Hero Police Officer
1991 Hon. Denis Dillon District Attorney, Nassau Co.
1992 Sr. Janet A. Fitzgerald President, Molloy College
1993 Joseph V. Buckley Restaurateur
1994 Rep. Peter King Congressional Representative
1995 Jack Ryan President, SEIU Local 74
1996 William V. Whelan President, Emerald Society, FDNY
1997 Brian Fitzpatrick Councilman, City of Glen Cove
1998 Michael McCormick National Historian, AOH
1999 Jack Irwin Governor’s Assistant for Irish Affairs
2000 Hon. Thomas R. Suozzi Mayor, City of Glen Cove; Nassau County Executive
2001 Patrick J. Lynch President, NYC Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association
2002 Mary Gilroy-Doohan, M.D. Director, Emergency Services NSUH Glen Cove
2003 Tony Jackson Irish radio personality WRHU-FM Radio, Hofstra Univesity
2004 Mary Ann Holzkamp Mayor, City of Glen Cove
2005 James McCabe Hibernian Activist
2006 The “Fighting 69th”
2007 Jack McDougal Police Sergeant
2008 John W.C. Canning Attorney and Public Servant
2009 Robert P. Lynch Attorney and Educator
2010 Thomas J. Lilly Attorney and Pro-Life Activist
2011 Andrew Stafford Former Parade Chairman
2012 Maureen Basdavanos Glen Cove Deputy Mayor
2013 Daniel Lane Irish Activist
2014 John O’Connell Journalist.
2015 Fr. Elias Carr, Headmaster, All Saints Regional Catholic School
2016 Paul Long, First Responder and Veterans’ Advocate
2017 Julie Albin and Christopher Albin community activists
2018 William “Bill” Doherty, Parade Founder
2019 Patrick “Patsy” Furlong, ASR school staff member
2020 – Parade canceled due to Covid crisis
2021 – Parade canceled due to Covid crisis
2022 Gerard “Gerry” Herbert, Glen Cove business owner
2023 Ryan W. Doherty, acclaimed leader in law enforcement and the Irish community
2024 Christine Rice, Executive Director of the Glen Cove Senior Center, Glen Cove, NY, and Chairwoman of NOSH Delivers
2025 Joseph McDonald, Sports journalist, website developer, real estate broker and Hibenian activist