Hoboken To Host Irish Festival

The city of Hoboken has announced the first ever Irish Cultural Festival in Frank Sinatra Park on March 14. 

The event comes after the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade was canceled. 

According to the announcement, the event will feature Irish sport, dance, music, and food and is free and open to all ages. Proceeds from concessions will go to the Hoboken Shelter and Hoboken American Legion.

Hobokenite Chris Halleron is one of the chief organizers of the event and said he reached out to the organizers of the Pier Sessions, concerts held on the uptown piers in the summer. 

In the press release sent out by the city, Halleron said he was excited for the event. "It would be nice to get out and actually enjoy the St. Patrick's celebration in my own town for a change," he said, "and I bet there are a number of people in this town who feel the same way."

Below you'll find a list of activities on that day, as announced by the city: 

The event will kick-off at 4 pm at the Little League Field with a demonstration of theGaelic sport of Hurling from the Hoboken Guards, the city's GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) affiliated hurling squad—now entering their second season. Following the scrimmage, a youth clinic will be held for anyone interested in learning more about this fast-paced Irish pastime.

Entertainment will start at 6 p.m with a performance by the Traditional Irish Step Dancers from The Garden Street School of the Performing Arts (1018 Washington Street, 201-683-7078.

Music will follow with an acoustic set from Hoboken Irish-American artist Will O'Connor. Dublin's George Murphy takes the stage next, delivering a gritty set of traditional Irish seisún music. Finally, New Jersey's Paddy and the Pale Boys take the stage, performing their own hard-charging, uniquely styled Irish-American sound.

The event is free to the public. Proceeds from concessions will be donated via the Dr. Atlas Foundation to The Hoboken Shelter for the homeless and Hoboken American Legion Post 107, which runs an Adopt-A-Soldier program to deliver care packages to U.S. armed forces personnel overseas.