Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Photos: Rockaways Celebrates St Patrick's Day Early With Copious Day Drinking
By
Scott Lynch
Published Mar 6, 2016
Modified Mar 3, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Scott Lynch / Gothamist
View all 63
By
Scott Lynch
Published Mar 6, 2016
Modified Mar 3, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The first Saturday in March may not be much of a holiday for most of New York City, but out in Belle Harbor and Rockaway Park it's the time of year when residents dust off their wacky shamrock sunglasses and throw a party on their front lawn in honor of the annual Queens County St. Patrick's Day parade.
All of the usual St. Paddy's sights and sounds were on hand yesterday: bagpipes and drum corps, Irish dance schools and union banners, giddy little kids and antique vehicles, novelty leprechaun gear and oceans of green. But because Belle Harbor is basically the suburbs, it all felt almost small town, and the homestretch along grittier Rockaway Boulevard was virtually empty.
Scott Lynch / Gothamist
There were politicians, of course ("Ever since Sandy they come", lamented one fidgety marcher, forced to stand and wait while speeches were made), including Public Advocate Letitia James, Comptroller Scott Stringer, and Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was booed lustily by the locals all along the route. Of course, booing the mayor in Rockaways is a tradition of its own.
Scott Lynch / Gothamist
As is the custom, there was also plenty of enthusiastic day drinking on display, both among the spectators and the marchers. A young women said the celebration out here in southern Queens is "even drunker than the regular St. Patrick's", but I didn't stick around late enough to see if she was right.
Tagged
day drinking
queens
rockaway
st. patrick's day parade
original
Scott Lynch
Photojournalist, food writer, preschool receptionist. Love NYC.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries
It's a busy month at the branches.
By
Alec Hamilton
Published Oct 4, 2026
NYC music in October: The Strokes, a Blink-182 cover band, and Polish experimentalism
An excellent and diverse month of concerts are in store for October.
By
Hank Shteamer
Arts & Entertainment
NYC music in October: The Strokes, a Blink-182 cover band, and Polish experimentalism
An excellent and diverse month of concerts are in store for October.
By
Hank Shteamer
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
By
Hannah Frishberg
In the mood for a pastoral autumn experience? Try Queens.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
October is spooky season at the movies in New York City
By
Emma Stefansky
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .