irishparade

Bagpipers march in the annual Ocean City St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival. (Photo credit: www.ococean.com)

OCEAN CITY, Md.-  Coastal Highway was glowing in green on Saturday, at the annual Ocean City St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival hosted by the Delmarva Irish-American Club. Judges reviewed the participating units and presented awards in several categories. The winners are as follows:

Best Marching Unit: Believe in Tomorrow Children’s House by the Sea

o   Honorable Mention: Surfrider Foundation

Best Commercial Float: Mann Properties

o   Honorable Mention: Belly Busters Seafood and Deli

Best Non-Commercial Float: Relay for Life of Northern Worcester County

o   Honorable Mention: Ocean City Downtown Association

Best Motorized Unit: Friends of the Worcester County Developmental Center

o   Honorable Mention: Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce

Best Adult Group: The Frat Boys

o   Honorable Mention: Matteo’s Salsa Loco

Best Youth Group: Sussex Central High School Marching Band

o   Honorable Mention: Paula’s School of Baton

Special Committee Award: Ocean City Surf Club

Judges’ Choice Award: Float of Hope

Best Overall: Seacrets/Ocean 98/Seacrets Distillery

Baskets of Cheer Winners: Charity Dudley, Selbyville, Del., Mary Matthes, Frankford, Del., Dawn Bowen, Leonardtown, Md.

Next year’s parade will be held Saturday, March 17. This Ocean City tradition, which began in 1980, has grown to become the second-largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the state, in addition to becoming a seasonal kick-off for many local businesses.