Celebrating 200 Years of the Utica St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 15, 2025

Parade

The Utica Saint Patrick’s Day Parade started as a small group of Irishmen marching down the Historic Brewery and Arts District and is now the 3rd largest parade in New York State!

200 years later, from the time John C. Devereux was Grand Marshal, the tradition lives on. Over 5,000 marchers from across the state step off from Oneida Square and head north on Genesee Street to greet spectators with their music and smiling faces. The Utica Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is one of Utica’s largest community events with over 30,000 viewers. Our judges will decide on winners from 5 different categories: Marching Unit, Vehicle, Fire Department, Band, Other.

Grand Marshal

The Honor Bestowed upon the Grand Marshal is second to none.

For 200 years a worthy Utican has led us as the honorary chair of all Irish in the area.

We are proud to announce The 2024 Utica St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshals are Mike and Chris Hoke!

Mike and Chris have been involved in the Irish trad organization Craobh Dugan-O’Looney for almost 45 years. In 1978, Chris helped found the branch, and Mike joined in 1980. Together, they lead several trad sessions and performances each month throughout the area. Each has held important board positions and offices in the parent group, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and in 2008, both Chris and Mike were inducted into the CCE Northeast Regional Hall of Fame. Both have a lifelong connection to Irish music. Mike is a long-time and respected fiddler and educator.
But their contributions don’t stop at music. Chris organized and, for all of its 14 years, chaired the annual Food Drive at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade to benefit Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen, bringing in over 14,000 food items and raising more than $18,000 to ease the plight of families in need. And both chair the ICC’s Programs Committee, for which they won the inaugural Matthew T. Sullivan Irish Spirit Award.

The announcement took place January 27, 2024 at Five Points Public House, Columbia Street, Utica, at 7 PM. New York State’s third largest Saint Patrick’s Day parade taking place Saturday, March 16th, 2024 at 10:00 AM along Genesee Street in Utica.