Jan. 30, 2012 By Christian Murray
The 13th annual Sunnyside-Woodside “St Pat’s for All” parade is scheduled to take place on March 4.
The event, which has always been run on a low budget, is starting its fundraising efforts early this year. This Wednesday the leaders of the event are getting together at Molly Blooms (Queens Blvd (btw. 43rd -44th) and are seeking a suggested donation of $25 per head.
This year’s parade will begin at the corner of 47th Street and Skillman Ave at 2:00 pm, with it ending at 58th Street and Woodside Ave. The post party will be held at Saints & Sinners at 60th Street and Roosevelt Ave.
The “St Pats for All” has grown into one of Sunnyside/Woodside’s largest events. It began after Irish lesbians and gays were prevented from participating in the Fifth Ave. parade—if they elected to march under a gay banner. In response, Brendan Fay, the co-chairman of the “St Pats for All” parade, established the Sunnyside/Woodside event.
The parade has drawn a diverse group of performers over the years. Typical attendees include the Niall O’Leary School of Irish Dance, the Keltic Dream Dancers, bagpipe brigades, Sunnyside Drum Corps. — to the local Sunnyside dog group, SUDS.
The well-known gay groups, such as Dignity USA, Stonewall Democrats of NYC and the Queens Lesbian & Gay Pride Committee tend to march.
At the same time, there tends to be many ethnic groups marching under a multitude of banners, representing countries such as Haiti, Chile, Mexico, Bolivia and Korea.
For further information, please click on St Pats for All
