THE 18TH ANNUAL CAPE COD ST. PATRICK’S PARADE
CAPE COD - IRISH IN THE OFF-SEASON
MARCH 11, 2023
From humble beginnings back in 2005, the annual Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Parade has steadily become a favorite activity for New Englanders celebrating Irish Heritage Month each March. It was initially organized by local Irish groups such as the Sons of Erin and Cape Cod Irish Village, and over time the parade has welcomed numerous local businesses, boosters and sponsors to help underwrite the event, which features 100+ marching bands, floats and antique cars, according to Parade Chairman Des Keogh.
The two mile parade runs along Route 28. The parade route starts at Skull Island on Route 28, Yarmouth, and continues for 2 miles until Higgins Crowell Rd., not far from stunning beaches and ocean views of Cape Cod. This year’s theme is ‘Shamrocks and Shenanigans,’ reflecting the spirit of pride and good humor of the Cape’s Irish-American community.
The Cape has long been a popular summer destination and year round home for the Commonwealth’s Irish-American community, and that continues to grow as people retire and move to the Cape. According to a recent US Census, Barnstable County on Cape Cod has the fourth largest percentage of Irish descendants in the United States at 26.5%.
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The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce is an enthusiastic supporter of the Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Parade and calls it “the largest and most anticipated off-season occasion on the Cape, drawing upwards of 45,000 spectators from all over the country.”