Gerritsen Beach was a sea of green and gold on Saturday, March 29, as neighbors of all ages came together to celebrate the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a spirited tradition that’s become a local favorite. The parade marched forward under sunny skies and with record-high temperatures — a sharp contrast to its humble beginnings.
Jim Donovan, the driving force behind the parade, recalls how it all began, inspired by his father’s dying wish.
“My dad had gotten into an accident, and on his deathbed, he said he wanted a parade,” Donovan told Brooklyn Paper. “He died in February of 2010, and I said, ‘Okay, let’s have a parade.’ Everyone I spoke to told me, ‘You can’t do it. They’re never gonna let you do it.’ But I don’t take no for an answer, and I never did.”
Despite early resistance and some three years of red tape to obtain official parade permits, Donovan was determined to honor his father’s legacy. The first parade in 2010 stepped off (on the sidewalk) on March 13, battling hurricane-level winds and a blackout.
“The flags were flying all over the place, but we just kept going. There were 40-something trees down across Brooklyn,” Donovan said. “We marched right into the [Ancient Order of the] Hibernians, and they had a generator. So even though the power was out everywhere else, they kept the music and the party going.”
Fast forward to 2025, and the parade has become one of Gerritsen Beach’s most cherished traditions. This year, the celebration had a new sense of excitement as anticipation built.
“It’s different this year,” Donovan said. “There was a lot of buzz. People kept asking, ‘When’s the parade?’ We’ve raised about $3,400 this year, which we’ve never done before — we were lucky to get $2,000 in past years.”
What began as a volunteer-driven event now includes an online fundraiser to compensate performers for their time. Previously, Donovan said, participants performed “out of the goodness of their hearts.”
And surely, they still do. While the event has grown, its roots remain firmly planted in community and family.
“It’s about the kids and celebrating our culture,” Donovan said, adding that it’s nice to see that buzz transcend beyond the parade route and into local businesses. “It’s about generating community spirit. Everyone should be making money on the avenue.”
Local shops, bars and restaurants do great, he said. “The Gather Inn actually had to close because they ran out of food and beer.”
This year’s festivities kicked off at 1 p.m. from the corner of Gerritsen Avenue and wound its way to the waterfront, drawing hundreds of spectators eager to cheer on more than 30 community groups, leaders and residents marching in honor of Tom and Dolores Donovan.
Looking back on the parade’s 15-year history, Donovan reflected on its origins with pride. “The first parade was amazing. We had little ones — tiny little kids — with sweatshirts, dedicating the parade to my father,” he recalled. “They were fighting the wind, but we just kept going.”
Donovan himself is no stranger to the line of march. A member of the Knights of Columbus Pipe and Drum Band, taking to the streets for parades like Gerritsen’s isn’t necessarily a new venture for the Donovan family. Both his wife and daughter are a part of local marching bands, and his brother, Bill, too.
“It’s a real family affair,” he laughed, adding that Bill and Dominique Donovan are the “unsung heroes” who help him bring the parade to life each year.
As for this year’s standout weather, Donovan told Brooklyn Paper he wasn’t necessarily surprised.
“It always happens that way now,” he said. “It’s in memory of my parents so I like to think that’s them looking down and saying, ‘Good job.’”
Honorees this year included Grand Marshal Doug Luback, Deputy Grand Marshal Bill Donovan, Irishwoman of the Year Mary Evans and Irishman of the Year Michael Zwosta.
