The Annual Abington St. Patrick's Day parade started in a rather unusual way. It was as a result of a $10 bet between Jack Bailey and one of his employees. He made a bet that there would be a St. Patrick's Day Parade in Abington on March 17, 1980. His intent was to decorate his trucks drive them around the block and collect his $10. However, word traveled. Then police Chief, Eddie Murphy asked to be grand marshal, he spread the word, got a permit from the Board of Selectmen, and on March 17 a line of over 50 Abington Residents and businesses with decorated vehicles traveled the length of Abington in the first Abington St. Patrick's Day Parade. For many years the parade was held on March 17 regardless of the day of the week on which it fell. All of the mid week parades were entirely motorized. Once the 17th came on a weekend bands were hired and the parade became a marching parade. The marching parades became so popular that today all of the parades are marching parades and are held on Sundays. Awards are given for Best Decorated Car, Truck, Float, Best Use of Imagination, Most Spirited, and Best Color guard.