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Less than just two weeks away from an event that draws thousands to the city, the Asbury Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade team held one of their last fundraising endeavors of the season Sunday at the Wonder Bar, located on Ocean Avenue.

“All I can say is what a night,” co founder and President Garrett Giberson Jr. said of the event that drew hundreds to the Ocean Avenue venue from 3 to 9 p.m. “What I’m most excited about are how many people love this city.”

Giberson said since the parade was built on the city’s rich musical history, so it was only fitting that Sunday’s event brought together a mix of the area’s best.

The musical lineup featured performances by The Weeklings, the Pat Roddy Band, Brian Kirk & The Jirks, and Jo Bonanno and The Godsons of Soul [shown in feature photo]. DJ Lee Mrowicki was the master of ceremonies and the Irish 9 and a Halfers, featuring Patrick Campbell Guadagno, David Shamus McCarthy and Jameson John Rafferty brought Irish holiday flair.

And while, the final fundraising punctuation for this year’s parade will be Thursday’s Grand Marshal Dinner, hosted by Jimmy’s Italian Restaurant on Asbury Avenue, tickets are sold out. This year, Caroline O’Toole [at right below], the woman behind the Stone Pony’s success since 2003 will serve as parade Grand Marshal.

“Asbury Park has created a parade that celebrates the amazing diversity and arts of the city mixed with the most loved traditions of a good old fashioned parade,” event organizer Sammy Boyd said.

Event sponsors this year include Madison Marquette who donated the Route 66 circle billboard, Asbury Audio, Asbury Park Education Association, The Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce, Asbury Park Fire Fighters Local 384,  the Asbury Park Press, Belmonte’s Ristorante, The City of Asbury Park, The Coaster, Fedway, iStar Financial, Long Branch Fire Department, The Sigman Family, Syracuse Signs, Vail Realty, NJ 101.5 and the WRAT radio stations.

The Asbury Park’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade begins 1 p.m. at Ocean and Fifth avenues. The parade route traverses south to Asbury Avenue, up Cookman Avenue through the downtown, and ends in the Municipal Complex parking lot. There is a viewing stand at Press Plaza.

Growing exponentially each year since its 2014 creation, the parade features an array of musical floats and well as an array of featured performances from pipes and drums to roller girls, Irish Step Dancers, mummers, and our own beloved zombies, Boyd said.

And while the fundraising events are coming to a close, those wishing to donate can do so in myriad of ways, organizers said.

“No contribution is too small,” Giberson said.

A GoFundMe page has been established to help pay for parade costs, and donations can be made by mailing checks to The Asbury Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade, P.O. Box 694, Asbury Park, NJ 07712.

On parade day, Billy Hector and The Queen will headline the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Blues Party at Langosta Lounge, located at 1000 Ocean Ave.

For more information, email  asburystpatsparade@gmail.com or visit  asburyparkstpatricksdayparade.com.

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The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

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