Denville String Band to start 63rd year of Mummers style at St. Patricks parade

photo by jerry dalia

The colorful Denville String Band performs in holiday parades around the area.

The Denville String Band, North Jerseys only Mummers-style marching band, is beginning its 63rd year of entertaining people in parades and concerts. The band plays and marches in the style of the Philadelphia Mummers bands with elaborate costumes and traditional popular music from the 1920s through the 1950s with a sprinkling of newer songs. It also performs concerts at indoor venues and summer-time gazebos all over North Jersey.

"Our next public performance will be at the Morristown St. Patricks Day parade on March 15," said Band President Bernie Dennison. "It is an honor to participate in this parade which is said to be one of the largest if not the largest St. Patricks Day parade in New Jersey."

Parade day will start with Mass at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 91 Maple Ave. in Morristown. The parade will begin at noon near the corner of South Street and James Street and proceed up South Street around the Morristown Green and Ends at Atno Avenue.

Pre-parade festivities will start at the Green at 10:30 a.m. with Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones, "The National Anthem," Irish step dancing and chalking of the Shamrocks by the Special Olympics.

According to Dennison, the Denville String Band has a full slate of concerts and parades scheduled for 2014 including many around Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving.

The band is very popular, we have more requests by concert and parade organizers then we can possibly handle," he said. "Unfortunately, we have to turn down many requests."

The band is actively seeking new members. According to Membership Chairman Andrew Bulfer, the band is particularly looking for new saxophone, clarinet, banjo, guitar, accordion and drummers. Other woodwind and string instrument players are also invited. There are non-musical positions available too, so other family members can participate.

According to Bulfer, marching with the band down the street in full colorful Mummers costumes with crowds cheering at the curb is a particular thrill for their members.

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Denville String Band to start 63rd year of Mummers style at St. Patricks parade