Patty Ziparo-Dalton

The Westhampton Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee is proud to announce the Grand Marshal for 2024 is Patty Ziparo-Dalton. Patty was chosen to lead the 55th annual Parade because of her community service to the greater Westhampton Beach community. Patty worked for the Westhampton Beach School District as a teacher and Athletic Director for almost 40 years. She has been a longtime member of the Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance and currently serves as treasurer for the Ambulance. Her and her husband, Bill Dalton, ran the local Boy Scouts unit for many years as well helping many young people become Eagle Scouts.

“Patty is a perfect example of what the Parade Committee looks for in a Grand Marshal,” Tim Laube, Committee President said. “Community service is so important to our town and Patty embodies that. She has made Westhampton Beach and its surrounding communities a better place for more than 40 years. We are proud to have Patty lead us in 2024.”

As is the Westhampton Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee tradition, the Grand Marshal gets to choose the Parade theme. Patty chose the Parade theme of “Rock, Paper, Scissors” because it was a successful and simple mediation technique she used to get students to settle their differences while she was a physical education teacher at Westhampton Beach.

The Parade will be held this year on March 9 with the annual fundraiser to be held on March 2 at Buoy One in Westhampton. Doors open at 6:30 there is a DJ and dancing until the late hours. With bagpipers blaring, the Committee will officially introduce Patty as the Grand Marshal and will present her with her Grand Marshal’s sash and Shillelagh.

The Committee is busy now collecting prize donations from local businesses and community members that eventually will lead to more than $20,000 worth of prizes raffled off. The Parade Committee is selling raffle tickets now for those raffles while also selling its $100 raffle tickets to very popular cash raffle. The Committee only sells 300 of the tickets so they go fast. There are 13 winners in the raffle as winners take home $21,000 in prizes. There are $5,000, $4,000, $3,000 winning tickets as well as two $2,000, two $1,000, two $750, two $500 and two $250 winners. If you are seeking a ticket to either raffle you can visit the Committee website for more information (whbstpats.com/fundraiser/) or visit Lynne’s Cards and Gifts to purchase a ticket.
“Last year’s party was a huge success,” Laube said. “The party is the primary way we fund the parade and we rely on the generosity of our local businesses. Plus it is just a great time. We have a solid group of dedicated volunteers who get out and make the Parade happen.”

Float categories are the same (whbstpats.com/be-in-the-parade) check out this link for the categories. We give cash prizes to the best three community and best three youth floats. Anyone interested in entering a float can go to the website for more info. Entry is free and we can help with securing a flatbed for a float.

We expect to have five pipe bands, seven fire departments, five ambulance units, two high school bands and dozens of floats, classic cars and marching units. If the weather is good, we expect about 80-100 entries into the Parade and about 5,000 to 10,000 people in attendance.

The Parade starts on Mill Road in front of the Westhampton Beach Middle School and travels towards Main Street before turning right on Main Street and ending near the Westhampton Performing Arts Center. Parade-goers can find great places to watch the Parade along Mill Road and Main Street.

The Committee expects Raynor Country Day School to be the favorite for best youth float with the Westhampton Historical Society the favorite for best community float. But there could very well be some surprises this year!

Besides the committed group of Committee members, the Parade couldn’t happen without the support of the Village of Westhampton Beach, the Village Police Department, the Westhampton Beach Fire Department and War Memorial Ambulance. The Committee is very grateful for their support.

“All the parts usually fall into place just as planned every year. Give us a day with no wind, lots of sun and temperatures in the 50s and it will be a great afternoon,” Laube said.