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The city’s second St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday kicks up a level with close to 50 groups and participants.

This is a near 60 percent increase over last year’s inaugural event, Asbury Park Fire Marshall and Committee President Garrett Giberson.

Despite today’s inclement weather, Sunday’s sunny forecast will rest comfortably in the 40s.

“I expect a great parade day,” Giberson said.

An uptick at this year’s fundraising events for the nonprofit event and its social media buzz could translate into more attendees, Giberson said.

“The response to last year’s parade was fantastic, we had 5,000 fans in the city — it was a great day for Asbury Park,” he said in a previous press release.

Paying homage to the city’s musical roots, sponsored floats will showcase live music. They include The Saint, Lakehouse Music Academy, Asbury Lanes, and the Sammy Boyd Production float featuring the Weeklings with Glen Burtnik. Pat Guadagno will make a debut and last year’s winner the Stone Pony/Wonder Bar will look to fight off challengers.

Highlights also include Mummers – the Woodland String Band will return with the Ferko String Band and the Uptown Swing Band mummers. Giberson said Irish Step dancers and a group of kazooers will join Irish bagbipers and drum bands.

This year’s grand marshal is the one and only Big Joe Henry, the weekend disc jockey from NJ 101.5.

Local school marching bands, neighborhood associations, civil organizations, and alumni groups will join the cheerleaders, drill teams, roller skaters, scouts, and other dance troupes in the near mile-long parade route.

The parade kicks off at 1 p.m. from in front of the Fifth Avenue pavilion, continues down Ocean Avenue, and up Cookman Avenue to the Main Street judging area in the municipal parking lot. Participants will have 45 seconds to showcase their talents before the judges.

Asbury Park Police Department spokesman Michael Casey said in news release that motorists should plan alternate travel routes. Begining at noon Lake Avenue from Main Street east to Wesley Lake Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic.

“The Lake Avenue corridor will be used for emergency vehicles to access and exit the parade route,” Casey said.

Other road closures include: the 11:30 a.m. closure of Ocean Avenue from Fifth Avenue to Asbury Avenue and all cross streets leading to waterfront east of Kingsley; the noon closures of the 800 block of Bangs Avenue from Memorial Drive to Main Street and Bond Street behind Dunkin Donuts from Main Street to Lake Avenue; and the 1:15 p.m. closure of Main Street between Lake and Summerfield avenues.

No parking signs will be posted Friday along Emory Street from Cookman Avenue east to Lake Avenue. The signs will prohibit parking from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday for the entire length of Cookman Avenue from Main Street to Asbury Avenue.

The parade is sponsored in part by the APEA, the Asbury Park Press, The Coaster newspaper, Knock Off printing, DJ’s Delights, Johnny Mac’s, Kim Marie’s and Madison Marquette.

For more information, visit their official web page.

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