The City of Dover has announced that this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade will not take place, citing a lack of volunteers to coordinate the event. The announcement, made on the city’s social media, has sparked an debate among residents, business owners, and community members.
City officials acknowledged the parade’s popularity and expressed their regret over the cancellation. “These extra events take substantial planning, and we were fortunate to have some very dedicated volunteers the last several years – we could not find anyone who was interested in stepping into their shoes and taking over,” the city’s statement read. Officials encouraged those interested in organizing next year’s parade to reach out, stating, “We are always looking for volunteers – the more hands, the better!”
The decision has drawn mixed reactions online, with many expressing frustration over what they perceive as a lack of communication regarding the need for volunteers. Some commenters questioned whether a call for assistance had been made prior to the cancellation, while others suggested the city should have done more to ensure the event took place.
“When did you realize you didn’t have volunteers for the event this year?” one commenter asked, adding that a team of organizers should have already been in place following last year’s parade. Another resident wrote, “That’s unfortunate, was there a post asking for volunteers for this year?”