Covid-19 continues to disrupt local tradition, with the Montauk Friends of Erin's St. Patrick's Day parade, gala, and grand marshal's lunch the latest victims of the pandemic. The Friends had announced plans to hold the parade on March 28, a Sunday, but yesterday, about five weeks out, word came of its cancellation. The 2020 parade had met the same fate.
"We regretfully announce that all of our 2021 events are canceled due to New York State and local restrictions," the Friends of Erin posted Sunday on Facebook.
The parade would have been the group's 58th, with Charles Morici Sr. as the grand marshal. In good weather, as many as 40,000 people have crowded the streets of Montauk to cheer the annual event, which was "conceived as a way to bring an end to the dreary winters in Montauk and welcome spring with a joyous and festive Irish celebration."
There will still be a corned beef and cabbage dinner, albeit by takeout, at the Shagwong Tavern, on March 13. "If guidelines permit at the time of the event, it will be served in their restaurant also," the Friends of Erin said on their website.
The organization's annual Pot of Gold raffle is also happening, with tickets said to be going fast. The tickets are $103 each and only 350 will be sold. The grand prize is $10,000. More information is online at montaukfriendsoferin.org.