At the January 29th Town Board meeting, Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner was formally recognized by the Friends of St. Patrick, who announced that she has been selected as the Grand Marshal of the 74th annual Miller Place to Rocky Point St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The parade will take place on Sunday, March 15th. It is one of the longest parades on Long Island, stretching 2.8 miles from Miller Place to Rocky Point, and is the second-longest-running parade in Suffolk County.
During the Town Board meeting, Bonner was presented with the Grand Marshal sash by former Grand Marshal Vincent Worthington, who served in the role in 2024. Bonner is the fourth female to be named Grand Marshal in the parade’s history and the first individual female to receive the honor. The presentation marked a meaningful moment of recognition and celebration.
“I am incredibly honored and deeply grateful to the Friends of St. Patrick for this nomination,” Bonner said. “Being named Grand Marshal of such a longstanding and meaningful community tradition is truly humbling, and I look forward to celebrating alongside residents, families, and volunteers who make this parade so special each year.”
Founded in 1949 by John M. Sullivan and George Faulkner, the Friends of St. Patrick is a not-for-profit organization that launched its first Miller Place to Rocky Point St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1950 with the goal of bringing the community together at the close of winter. While the parade has grown from a small local gathering into one of Suffolk County’s largest and most anticipated annual celebrations, drawing tens of thousands of spectators, its mission of celebrating tradition, community, and Irish heritage has remained unchanged.
To support the continued success of the parade and related events, the Friends of St. Patrick rely on community fundraising efforts throughout the year. One such event is a dinner dance fundraiser to be held on February 21 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, located at 37 Crystal Brook Hollow Road in Mount Sinai, where Bonner will be formally recognized and presented with her own Grand Marshal sash, with proceeds helping to offset the costs of organizing and preserving this historic parade.