Big Crowds Expected For Sunday's St. Patrick’s Parade

Expect distinctive gray morning suit tuxedos, bagpipes and plenty of green to be the norm for one of Long Island's most colorful annual events — Huntington's St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Sponsored by the , the event is set for the second Sunday in March, its traditional start day. 

"Many residents mistakenly think the town sponsors the parade each year, but in truth it's actually the Hibernians who organize, promote, run and raise the money needed to pay for all the expenses associated with putting on this spectacular parade," said Hibernians Standing Chairman Rich McGrath, in a release.

Event organizers expect up to 25,000 to line the streets for the event, which begins just north of the Huntington Long Island Railroad Station at 2 p.m. The parade route will run along New York Avenue before turning west onto Main Street and ending at St. Patrick's School in the Village.

Suffolk County Police Benevolant Association President Jeff Frayler has been named grand marshal for the 2012 event. Frayler is a former police officer and U.S. Marine. He has served as PBA president since 1998.

Marching with Frayler will be Suffolk County Exective Steve Bellone, Nassau County PBA President James Carver and New York City PBA President Pat Lynch.

The oldest St. Patrick's Day parade on Long Island and one of the best, numerous bagpipe and marching bands are at the core of a long list of parade entrants in 2012 which includes color guards, police and military units, antique and government vehicles, elected officials, veterans groups, business representatives and youth groups.

Past St. Patrick's Parade Grand Marshal's:

• 2011 Richard Nelson
• 2010 Michael McCarthy
• 2009 Jimmy Gaughran
• 2008 Rich McGrath
• 2007 Ed Lowe
• 2006 Tom Ronayne
• 2005 Jimmy Farrell2004 Jerome Gannon
• 2002 Mark Cuthbertson
• 2001 George Massua
• 2000 Hon. John Duffy
• 1999 William Duffy
• 1998 Regis B. O’Neill, Jr.
• 1997 Clifford E. Starkins
• 1996 Greg V. Butler
• 1995 Michael O’Donohoe
• 1994 Kevin Murray
• 1993 Dr. Vincent Moriarity
• 1992 Hon. Michael Mullen
• 1991 John M. Kennedy
• 1990 Sister Claire O’Keefe
• 1989 Morgan Edwards
• 1988 William Naughton
• 1987 Thomas McGlone
• 1986 James F. Gaughran
• 1985 Martin Feeney, Jr.
• 1984 Francis Ronaghan
• 1983 Peter Cohalan
• 1982 Bishop Gerald Ryan
• 1981 JamesO’Connor, Sr.
• 1980 John J. O’Neil
• 1979 Dominick P. Feeney
• 1978 Hon. Harry Brown
• 1977 James Tully, Jr.
• 1976 Ann Hurley
• 1975 Kenneth Butterfield
• 1974 John J. Flanagan
• 1973 Jerome A. Ambro
• 1972 Thomas Casey
• 1971 John L. Barry
• 1970 Davis Haines
• 1969 John G. McCarthy
• 1968 John J. Walsh
• 1967 John Dolan
• 1966 James J. Kelleher
• 1965 Bernard P. McSherry
• 1964 Thomas O’Connell
• 1963 Frank J. Ward
• 1962 James P. Heneghan
• 1960 Martin J. Feeney, Sr.
• 1961 Francis X. Hackett
• 1959 John A. Smith
• 1958 William F. Ahern
• 1957 Patrick Finnegan
• 1956 Joseph Duffy
• 1955 Michael O’Shea
• 1954 Joseph P. McCarthy
• 1953 Fred Cambell
• 1952 Harold Noonan
• 1951 Jack Murphy
• 1950 James Joseph Burke
• 1949 William J. Meyler
• 1948 Michael G. Kennedy
• 1947 Michael A. Connell
• 1946 William Finnegan
• 1945 World War II
• 1944 World War II
• 1943 World War II
• 1942 World War II
• 1941 Arthur Delaney
• 1940 John S. Murphy
• 1939 Thomas J. Queenan
• 1938 Michael Kennedy
• 1937 Edward J. Gavin
• 1936 Arthur Delaney
• 1930-35 No Grand Marshal