Newport St. Patrick’s Parade Organizers Delay Parade to Fall

Newport St. Patrick’s Parade Organizers Delay Parade to Fall

Wednesday is St. Patrick’s Day, and 2021 is the second year in a row that the Newport St. Patrick’s Day parade has been canceled due to coronavirus. 

All might not be lost this year, however, 

Parade organizers have announced they are looking at the fall to hopefully have a special “half-year” parade — on September 25. 

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Parade organizers shared the following:

Postponing the Parade may be disappointing for all, especially the local businesses that rely on your support.  

But, we will be back in 6 months for the unique 65½ Annual Parade!  Let us look to our Patron Saint, St. Patrick, and proceed with kindness, perseverance, and integrity.  

Limited quantities of "Postponed" date buttons are available for the collectors.  Unique?

Latest for Parade

The 65th parade, which was supposed to be held on March 13, was dedicated to Thomas “Tom” Peter Lalli, the “Mayor of the Point.”

The Point is a historic section in the city across from Goat Island. 

In 2020, the decision to cancel the parade for the first time in its history was met with controversy, as the pandemic had just begun to hit the United States.

As GoLocal reported in March 2020:

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo is calling on Newport officials to cancel the St. Patrick’s Day Parade the morning after the Newport City Council ignored the advice of state health officials and voted on Tuesday to let the parade take place.

“The Governor’s top priority is containing the spread of coronavirus, and she is recommending that Newport postpone or cancel the parade in the interest of safety,” Josh Block, Press Secretary to Raimondo told GoLocal on Wednesday morning.

The Newport City Council voted Tuesday night not to cancel the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Then, Wednesday night the Council reversed course for the third time and voted to cancel the parade.