Photos
Four decades of St. Patrick's Day Parades have stepped off in Belmar and Lake Como, the latest being today. Thousands are expected along Main Street, among them small children waving Irish flags, and throngs of adults toasting their pints high in the air.
But whether your fondest parade memory is how long it took you to get that orange dye out of your beard, or practicing your cadence as you marched the parade route with your school band, there are lots of memories to share of parades past and memories to make of the parade ahead today.
Here's a gallery to upload your pictures and videos of the parade, and share your memories in the comments.
Everyone has a memory, not just because the parade is such an intricate part of the fabric of the community, but, at least, because everyone is Irish, on parade day.
Catherine Galioto
5:43 am on Sunday, March 3, 2013
I'll be honest, I'm not a bit Irish, although I've been told there's some Scottish in there. My fondest parade memory is my years in the parade, which I skated with the Jersey Shore Roller Girls. While many of my league mates wore our league insignia with hints of green for the day, I went full-on lady leprechaun, with an intricate dress, orange striped socks, white sweater and a cartoonish hat. It was a good time to see spectators' eyes widen at the roller skating leprechaun. Everyone is having such a grand celebratory time at the parade, it is amazing.