Irish eyes smiling for St. Patrick's Parade in Scranton

Mar. 10—SCRANTON — The pipes are calling, the lines are painted, the floats are prepped and the snowfall should be long done by the time the annual St. Patrick's Parade steps off Saturday at 11:45 a.m.

The St. Patrick's Parade Association of Lackawanna County's annual celebration of Irish heritage — a tradition dating to 1962 — will include 147 groups of participants numbering over 12,000 people, said Parade Director Tom Gilbride.

They will include 11 bagpipe bands, six high school bands, floats, Irish groups and societies, and a pro-Ukraine group.

"We are back to pre-COVID levels of participants," Gilbride said. "We're thrilled to be back to somewhat normalcy," after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organizers also expect to draw thousands of spectators decked out in green and shamrocks. Businesses throughout the city also have live music and other specials planned throughout the day.

Here's key information to ensure all eyes are smiling during the big event.

Parade route

The parade starts at Wyoming Avenue and Mulberry Street. From there, it follows Wyoming Avenue and turns left onto Lackawanna Avenue, then Jefferson Avenue. Marchers turn left onto Biden Street, then right on North Washington Avenue. The route continues on North Washington, passing the reviewing stand near Linden Street and ends at Vine Street.

Road closures

All downtown Scranton roads from Penn Avenue to Jefferson Avenue and Lackawanna Avenue to Vine Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from 9:30 a.m. until the end of the parade.

Where to park

Parking will be prohibited from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday in the 200 to 400 blocks of Mulberry Street, 100 to 600 blocks of Wyoming Avenue, 100 to 400 blocks of North Washington Avenue, 300 to 600 block of Linden Street, 300 to 600 blocks of Biden Street, 300 to 700 blocks of Lackawanna Avenue, 100 to 300 blocks of Adams Avenue, 100 block of Jefferson Avenue and 400 block of Penn Avenue. Vehicles parked in posted "no parking" areas will be towed at the owner's expense, police said.

Parking will be available outside of the areas closed to vehicle traffic. JBAS Realty, a firm of developer/businessman John Basalyga, also will provide free parking Saturday for the parade on a 2-acre lot he owns at 320 Franklin Ave., which is the site of the former Red Carpet Inn & Suites between Linden and Mulberry streets. "The Scranton St. Patrick Parade is this Saturday and we all know what that means ... nowhere to park in downtown," a JBAS Realty Facebook post read. "While we can't completely fix the parking problem, we would like to help."

Weather

Forecasts called for snow Friday into Saturday, but amounting to little accumulation and ending several hours before the parade. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for Lackawanna County from 2 p.m. Friday until 9 a.m. Saturday. Temperatures are forecast to reach a high of 40 degrees Saturday.

Mass

A 10 a.m. Mass at St. Peter's Cathedral, 315 Wyoming Ave., kicks off the Parade Day celebration.

Race

The Brian P. Kelly Memorial St. Patrick's Parade 2-Mile Footrace, at 11 a.m., follows the parade route in reverse. The out-and-back course starts and ends in front of Scranton Cultural Center at The Masonic Temple, 420 N. Washington Ave. Registration, which costs $15, takes place between 9:15 and 10:15 a.m. at the Lackawanna College Student Union, 500 Jefferson Ave.

Schedule, at a glance

6 a.m.: Parking restrictions go into effect.

9:30 a.m.: Road closures start.

10 a.m.: Mass at St. Peter's Cathedral, 315 Wyoming Ave.

11 a.m.: Brian P. Kelly Memorial race; registration, 9:15 to 10:15 a.m., Lackawanna College Student Union, 500 Jefferson Ave., race departs 11 a.m. in front of Scranton Cultural Center at The Masonic Temple, 420 N. Washington Ave.

11:45 a.m.: Parade steps off at Mulberry Street and Wyoming Avenue.

DIGNITARIES

Special visitors include a contingent from from County Mayo, the home of Scranton's Irish sister city, Ballina. Many Irish families in Scranton trace their ancestry back to County Mayo.

2023 Parade Dignitaries include:

Parade Grand Marshall: Jerry Notarianni

Honorary Parade Grand Marshall: Gene Reed

Parade Marshall: Albert P. O'Donnell

Honorary Parade Marshall: Robert Fitzpatrick

Parade Commander: Michael McLane

St. Brigid Humanitarian Award: The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton

Parade Dedication: Buddy Cosgrove

Parade Day Mass Dedication: Bobby Timlin, Tom Conway, Tony Walsh, Fergal O'Brien, Tom Scanlan, James "Red" McAndrew, Anthony F. (Botch) Hughes and Michael (Mikey) Castaldi Sr.

For more information, visit stpatparade.com or the parade's Facebook page.

Contact the writer:

jlockwood@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5185;

@jlockwoodTT on Twitter.