Hilton Head’s St. Patrick’s Day parade celebrates 40 years

HILTON HEAD, S.C. (WTOC) - What began as a group of friends with Irish roots marching down the road has become one of the best St. Patrick’s Day parades in South Carolina, drawing tens of thousands of spectators each year.

The Hilton Head St. Patrick’s Day Parade will celebrate its 40th anniversary in March 2026, marking four decades of community tradition — and honoring the memory of the man who started it all.

On March 22, 1983, the late Hilton Head businessman Tom Reilley, along with his family and friends, decided the island needed something special.

“It was a bunch of guys who just decided that ‘Dang it, we need to have a parade,’” recalled Steve Riley, who served as grand marshal in 2017.

That first march has since grown into a must-attend Lowcountry event, featuring multiple bands and participants from across the region.

Small-town charm on a grand scale

Despite its growth, the parade has maintained the intimate feel that made it special from the beginning.

“It’s an old hometown parade, which is a beautiful thing because you don’t see that anymore,” Riley said.

Gabrielle Muething, the parade’s current chairwoman, emphasized its accessibility: “It is the one event that is family-friendly, it’s free, you can watch from a bazillion places and enjoy all that the island offers at the same time.”

The 40th anniversary comes with both joy and sorrow. Last year’s planned celebration was canceled due to severe weather.

“We went home sad, but everyone got home safe and that’s the most important part,” Muething said.

This year’s parade will also be the first without Reilley, who passed away in May 2025.

“It’s gonna be hard to think about this parade without him,” Muething said.

Honoring a legacy

Reilley’s wife, Dianne, will serve as grand marshal for the 40th anniversary parade — a role she was originally set to assume last year before the cancellation.

Carol Kavanaugh-Arrington, the parade’s announcer, said the honor is well-deserved: “She’s so deserving of that honor. First of all, to be a part of Tom’s life and to lead their family to such greatness in our community, not only because of that role, but her community involvement that people don’t know about.”

For Dianne Reilley, the role carries deep personal meaning: “It means a lot because this was my husband’s thing.”

The Tradition Continues

As the parade prepares for its milestone celebration, organizers say they’re committed to honoring Tom Reilley’s original vision.

“He began this just to bring the community together to begin with, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do on his behalf,” Muething said.

The parade will step off at 2 p.m. on March 15, continuing a tradition that has brought generations of families together on Hilton Head Island for 40 years.