Short Parade Is Long on Fun

Mar. 13, 2014

Organizers of the sixth annual Am O’Gansett Parade, happening on Saturday at 12:02 p.m., may have outdone themselves in the selection of this year’s grand marshal.

The grand marshal of what organizers claim to be the world’s shortest parade, a sort of alternate-universe St. Patrick’s Day march, cannot be of Irish heritage. In a way, officials of the Amagansett Chamber of Commerce, who oversee the parade’s planning, have satisfied that requirement: Last week, they named the Amagansett School this year’s grand marshal.

“We’re delighted,” Eleanor Tritt, the school’s superintendent, said on Friday. “It’s really exciting. We’re looking forward to it.” Ms. Tritt learned of the honor bestowed on the school last Thursday afternoon. “I’m sure that everybody in town will want to participate,” she said. Students, parents, alumni, faculty, and board members have been invited to march.

The parade begins on Main Street outside of Mary’s Marvelous and proceeds to the Mobil gas station at the corner of Main Street and Indian Wells Highway.

Joi Jackson Perle, executive director of the Amagansett Chamber of Commerce, said that this year’s parade will feature some new participants. “People are being very creative in how they’re marching, and the groups they’re marching with,” she said. “We hope people come out and support the school and local businesses. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Organizers are gathering donations for a raffle to be held on Saturday, Ms. Perle said. Donated items so far include a photo taken by Dell Cullum, a nature photographer who contributes images to The Star, a music lesson at Crossroads Music, and gift certificates to the Salon and Day Spa, Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee, and Felice’s Ristorante, she said. “It’s starting to really add up. It’s so nice that everybody’s getting into the spirit of it.”

Alas, competing claimants to the world’s-shortest-parade distinction have arisen. The New York Times reported last week that an annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Hot Springs, Ark., spans just 98 feet. Not to be outdone, a pub in the Bronx, An Beal Bocht (The Poor Mouth), will hold its second annual parade on Monday night. Its organizers claim a 47-foot march.

Following the Am O’Gansett parade, there will be family activities at Miss Amelia’s Cottage, including a bouncy castle, hula-hoops, and other children’s games.