Mystic Irish Parade Kicks off March 22; Susette Tibus Selected as Grand Marshal
Mystic Irish Parade Kicks off March 22; Susette Tibus Selected as Grand Marshal
The 2026 edition of the annual Mystic Irish Parade is set to step off on Sunday, March 22, once again bringing thousands to downtown Mystic to experience all things Irish, from bagpipes to Irish Setters, Irish Wolfhounds, step dancers and more.
Leading this year’s parade, which starts at 1 p.m. from Mystic Seaport and winds through the village to downtown, will be Grand Marshal Susette Tibus, a lifelong Mystic resident, co-owner of Simply Majestic Jewelry, and president and CEO of the Mystic Aquarium.
Tibus has a long history of community leadership, including serving as past president of the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Olde Mistick Village Merchants’ Association, chair of the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival for 15 years, and past chair of the Stonington Board of Police Commissioners.
“Clearly, Susette is deeply committed to Mystic and the region,” said Neil Ryan, vice president of the Mystic Irish Parade Foundation, the sponsoring organization. “While Susette has been a dedicated supporter and a familiar face marching at the front of the parade for many years, the foundation is thrilled to officially name her as the leader of the 2026 procession. Susette is a pillar of the community.”
The annual Mystic Irish Parade has grown to be the region’s largest parade, with more than 2,000 participants and 30,000-plus spectators each year. The Mystic Irish Parade Foundation is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization that raises money to fund local charities.
The Foundation also selects a Parade Grand Colleen each year and this year’s honor went to Anna Kate O’Donnell, a senior at Saint Bernard School.
Anna Kate is a James A. Greenleaf Memorial Scholarship recipient, a member of the school’s National Honor Society chapter, secretary of the National Art Honor Society chapter, and the senior Xaverian Brothers-Sponsored Schools Leader where she helps run religious retreats for students. Anna Kate was captain of her school’s varsity swim team, St. Bernard’s ECC Scholar Athlete for swimming, and is currently a member of the Mystic Hammerheads swim team. Outside of school and sports, she works on a service project with friends every year to donate baby supplies to the Anchor of Hope shelter in New London. Anna Kate plans to attend The Catholic University of America in the fall where she will major in nursing and serve as a midshipman at the Capital Battalion for the Naval ROTC program.
Members of the 2026 Grand Colleen Court are Finnella O’Keefe of Stonington High School, Avery Horan and Camille DeBell of Fitch High School, and Myra Cooley of the Marine Science Magnet School.
In addition to organizing a spectacular parade for the community and raising funds for charitable organizations, the foundation also hosts an annual Irish Dinner and produces and funds the Grand Colleen Scholarship contest. The Mystic Irish Parade Foundation is dedicated to promoting and sharing Irish heritage through our website, Facebook page, and other events throughout the year.
Major sponsors this year include Mystic Aquarium and ASA Environmental Products
