The Luck of the Irish in Wappinger Falls
Floats of rainbows and pots of gold paraded down the streets of Wappinger Falls on March 2. The rain did not discourage the community from celebrating and carrying on the 29-year tradition.
The Dutchess County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee organizes the yearly festivities. Following the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade, the Wappinger Falls parade is the second largest in the state. Kerriane Hammond joined as a member of the parade committee in 2022.
“It seemed like a great organization to volunteer with, community-wise and celebrating my Irish history and representing the family,” Hammond said.
Hammond’s father-in-law was honored as the grand marshall of the parade in 2022. Since his passing, her involvement with the parade committee has been a way to honor family tradition.
To the people of Wappinger Falls, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a way to share their Irish heritage. Houses were dressed in shamrocks and Irish flags. Long-time Wappinger Falls resident Anna Marie O’Callahan has watched the parade pass her house since her family moved to the town in 1999. O’Callahan recounted the first time experiencing the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
“We were all sleeping and had no idea the parade would pass our house. We heard the bands going by and we ran around to wake all the kids up and watch the parade,” O’Callahan said.
The parade never lost that spark to her and her family, “the bagpipes make you cry every time. I FaceTime my daughter in Florida and we watch them together and cry,” O’Callahan said.
She sits proudly under her Irish flag, a gift from a late friend, “I know she is here with me today watching the parade,” O’Callahan said.
Parade floats lined Main St. waiting for kick-off. The New Hamburg Yacht Club members enjoyed Irish soda bread as they anticipated boarding their float. Caitlyn Germinaro and Lynn Nicholas are two yacht club members participating in The Dutchess County St. Patrick’s Day parade for over seven years.
“This float is more of a party on board, we have our music blasting up front,” said Nicholas. The other members added that they see the parade as a way to support the community and to gather with friends.
The parade committee hosts an annual float competition, the floats are judged on a series of requirements. The New Hamburg Yacht Club is one of the previous winners. Heading their float is usually a large statue of St. Patrick, they had to leave him behind due to the rain this year. Despite the adjustment to the float, the rain didn’t dampen anyone’s mood.
“This has been going on for so long in Wappingers. It’s rain or shine, people just know to show up; if you’re invested in the village parade, you hunker down for the weather,” Germinaro said. Her statement ran true as the streets were lined with people.
Last year, Kerrianne Hammond noticed that once the parade ended people were leaving in droves. This year, her goal was to channel more people into the village. The Dutchess County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee teamed up with The First Saturday group, a local grassroots organization that promotes local businesses.
“The parade is the main event between one and three, and then we have all kinds of scheduled things during the day leading up to an afterparty the committee is sponsoring,” Hammond said.
The parade committee opened a space for families to gather and carry on the St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Mahoney’s Irish Pub in Poughkeepsie catered food and drinks.
The St. Patrick’s Day parade was a vibrant celebration of Irish culture and community spirit that broke through a rainy day. As the echoes of bagpipes and laughter fade into the evening, the memories of a joyous occasion linger through Wappinger Falls, reminding us of the power of tradition and the bonds that unite a community.
