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Stamford Natives Join The Fun At St. Patrick's Day Parade

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Many cities have parades for St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate Irish culture and Irish-Americans who have made this country the place it is. But the one in Bridgeport takes the cake. 

From left: Kim, Phoebe and Sam Zombar

From left: Kim, Phoebe and Sam Zombar

Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
Aaron Grant

Aaron Grant

Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio
Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio

That's the opinion of Fairfield natives Kim and Sam Zombar.

“This is the one we absolutely make sure we go to each year,” Kim Zombar said, as she and her husband watched the 33rd annual St. Patrick’s Day parade Tuesday in the Park City with their 1-year-old daughter Phoebe.

The Greater Bridgeport St. Patrick’s Day Committee hosted its annual parade and day of celebrations, completely turning downtown Bridgeport into a sea of green, smiling faces, and waving children.

More than a thousand spectators gathered on a day that began with rain but saw the clouds part for the big event. The procession began at Harbor Yard, went along Broad Street and turned to Main Street before coming to an end near the Bridgeport Holiday Inn.

Although many parades are bigger, including the famous one in the heart of Manhattan, Kim and Sam Zombar said it is the “sense of family” that has kept them coming to the Bridgeport parade over the past five years.

“It’s our community,” Same Zombar said. “It’s good to support our local everything.”

Karen Maignan, who moved to Bridgeport just seven months ago, agreed with Sam Zombar. The parade is “a good look” for Bridgeport, she said.

“You hear a lot of bad things about Bridgeport, and I think this is just one thing that has changed my mind about the city’s reputation,” Maignan said. She was with her friend Aaron Grant, a fellow Stamford native who lives in Bridgeport.

For Grant, the fun of St. Patrick’s Day is in the party.

“The Guinness, the parade, the people, that’s what I love,” Grant said. “I especially like the bands because I used to play in high school.”

The former Stamford High School sousaphonist added that he would be heading to South Norwalk to celebrate the rest of his holiday, as fire trucks ripped down the avenue and the parade came to a conclusion with the Bridgeport Central High School marching band.

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