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Best Crowd Contest
Think you’re the Best Crowd at the Parade? Maybe we’ll think so too!
‘Crowds’ will be judged on four criteria:
- Parade Spirit
- Enthusiasm
- Best Use of the color Green
- Promoting the family atmosphere of the parade
Pre-registration by March 10, using this form or via our website, is highly recommended. Pre-registered ‘Crowds’ are asked to identify where they will be located on the parade route to assist judges. Additionally, pre-registered participants may submit information about what makes them the ‘Best Crowd.’
Prizes will be awarded in two different categories:
- Best Crowd – Business
- Best Crowd – Non-Business
Winners will receive an outdoor banner displaying “Best Crowd 2020 – Worcester County St. Patrick’s Parade” and a trophy to be presented at the Parade’s annual Awards Breakfast in the fall. Winners will also receive two complimentary tickets to the Awards Breakfast.
View Rules for Best Crowd 2020
Questions? Email BestCrowd@stpatsparade.com or call 508-847-7100
To enter, send Group or Business Name, Contact Person Name, Contact Telephone/Email, Location on Parade Route
by email to BestCrowd@stpatsparade.com
OR mail your entry to Worc. County St. Patrick’s Parade, Best Crowd Contest, P.O. Box 20708, Worcester, MA 01602

2018 Grand Marshal: Bill Riley
Congratulations to Bill Riley, Grand Marshal of the 2018 Parade! Bill manages the St. John’s Food for the Poor Program at St John’s Catholic Church. It’s an honor to have Bill lead the 2018 Parade down Park Ave.
Purchase tickets to the Grand Marshal Banquet
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Cost: $40
Please bring a canned food item for donation.
St. Spyridon’s Cathedral
102 Russell Street
Worcester, MA 01609

Annual Awards Breakfast
Come join us for the Annual Awards Breakfast!
Saturday, November 18 – 2017
Hibernian Cultural Centre
19 Temple Street, Worcester
Tickets: $25
Music by Mike Ladd
2018 Award Winners:
Cathy Donahue Good Neighbor Award – Mayor Joseph Petty
Agnes Sheehan Community Award – William White
Judy Wilkinson Award – John Hinson
Virginia Boulay Award – Theresa Trainor
For questions or to purchase tickets by check/cash, call 774-696-6368
Thanks to AmeriPride for their sponsorship of this event!

Worcester Bravehearts: Parade Fundraiser
Catch a Bravehearts game and support the Parade!
July 22, 2017
Gates open at 5:00 pm
Game starts at 7:05 pm
Tickets: $15 for a box seat and replica game-day hat (adult and youth sizes available) – an $18 value.
Questions? Or to purchase by cash/check – contact: John Elie at sponsors@stpatsparade.com
Join the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee!
Be a part of Worcester County’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration!
The Worcester County St. Patrick’s Parade Committee is looking for new members to join our organization and help produce the parade.
Friday, June 2 – 7:30 PM-9:30 PM – Fiddler’s Green Pub
Worcester was voted the 5th best city for St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations in the U.S. – we need your help to hit # 1! There are many ways to participate.
In addition to parade day volunteers, we need people to help with year-round community and family-oriented events and fundraising, such as:
- Golf Tournment
- Annual Irish Breakfast
- Grand Marshal Banquet
- Political Breakfast and Roast
- Operations Planning
- Publicity
Fiddler’s Green Pub
19 Temple Street
Worcester, MA 01604
Questions? Email membership@stpatsparade.com

Belsher and Wood Concert
Richard Wood and Gordon Belsher
Award-winning, traditional Celtic and Canadian folk music direct from Prince Edward Island
To benefit the Worcester County St. Patrick’s Parade Committee
May 20, 8 PM
Knights of Columbus
44 Circuit Ave N
Worcester, MA 01603
Tickets can be purchased online (includes $1 service charge)
To purchase tickets by cash or check, contact:
Paul & Helen Foley
505 Mill St. #264
Worcester, MA 01602
Home phone: 508-799-7775
htfoley@charter.net
Questions? Email: events@stpatsparade.com
2017 Parade Line Up

2017 Grand Marshal: Mary Ann (Sheehan) Dube
This year the St.Patrick’s Parade Committee has chosen Mary Anne (Sheehan) Dube as the Grand Marshal of the 35th Annual St. Patrick’s Parade.
Born in Worcester to Michael and Mildred Sheehan, Mary Anne is the granddaughter of three Irish immigrants who came to Worcester in the late 1890’s. She is a graduate of St. Stephen’s High School and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Worcester State (College)University. She taught elementary school in Worcester and Millbury, retiring in 2004. Currently, Mary Anne is a Program Supervisor at Anna Maria College, mentoring and supervising student teachers through their Practicum.
Having been enthralled by the first St. Patrick’s Parade in Worcester, she and her good friend, Judy Wilkinson, joined the Parade Committee in 1984. As a volunteer she initiated one of the most enjoyable yet exhausting, fund raisers to benefit the Parade Committee, the Dance Marathon. She and many other committee members danced around the clock at the old Irish Club on Millbury Street, raising thousands of dollars to pay for bands for the Parade. Of course, that was then! Very few of our members now could last one hour, much less 24! Ah..to be young again! Shortly after the demise of the Dance Marathon, the concept of the Grand Marshal Dinner was born. First we celebrated at Holy Cross, then at the Sheraton Lincoln, and then at our long-time home, the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Recreation Center, where Mary Anne chaired the event for over ten years. These Award Dinners became the hit of the Irish community in Worcester, where popular Irish dance bands would keep the crowd on the floor until midnight with jigs, reels, and two-steps.
Mary Anne’s other passion is politics. While living in Millbury, she served as Chair of its Democratic Town Committee, and was a member of the Millbury Planning Board. When she moved back to Worcester, she joined the Worcester Democratic City Committee and served as its Vice Chair for several years. She also was appointed to the Worcester Election Commission and served as its chair for two terms. In 2008 she was elected as a member of the Democratic Electoral College, voting for the first black President in the history of our country. For her work on behalf of Democrats, Mary Anne was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award in June of this year by the Worcester Democratic City Committee.
She has been a member of the Board of Directors of St. Stephen’s School, where she can share her love of education and children.
Mary Anne is the proud mother of three: Michael Dube of Acton, Maura Peeler of Grafton, and Matthew Dube of Columbia, Missouri. She’s the proud grandmother to four boys: Jamieson and Brendan Dube, and Jon and Liam Peeler.
Being chosen as Grand Marshal of the Parade is an honor she’ll never forget!
2017 Worcester County St. Patrick’s Parade Award Winners
Cathy Donahue Good Neighbor Award: Jean Neale (Jean’s Place)
Agnes Sheehan Community Service Award: Mary Whidden
Judy Wilkinson Parade Award: Justin Beauregard
Virginia Boulay Hospitality Award: Jackie McGrath