Pottsville preparing for first St. Patrick's Day parade since 2019

Mar. 7—POTTSVILLE — Schuylkill County organizations will celebrate an early St. Patrick's Day this weekend with the return of the annual city parade.

Featuring more than 30 entities, including musical groups, dance troupes and city and county officials, this year's parade will be "one of the biggest ones yet," said Steve Young, chairman of the parade committee and a Pottsville Business Association board member.

Beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, the parade will be the first since 2019, as it was not held the past few years due to the pandemic.

For this year's event, the PBA has teamed up with the Ancient Order of Hibernians, which was the traditional sponsor of the parade from its inception in 1976 through 2019.

"If everything goes off without a hitch, then a lot of the bands we have this year will probably come back next year," Young said. "Once this starts getting rolling, it's going to be like any city parade."

Starting at 12th and Market streets, the parade will travel east on Market Street to Second Street, turn right on Second to Mahantongo Street, left on Mahantongo to Centre Street, left on Centre to Laurel Boulevard and finally left on Laurel to Third Street, near the Humane Fire Company, where the parade will disband.

Young said that while most of the participants will walk the parade route, some will have vehicles.

The lineup will include a procession of Jeeps, courtesy of the Jeep Enthusiasts of Eastern PA, based in the Lehigh Valley.

Near the end of the parade, there will be about 26 firetrucks from local fire companies.

This year's grand marshals are John O'Reilly and Patrick M. "Porcupine Pat" McKinney.

Also participating in the parade will be the Greater Pottsville Winter Carnival, the Crimson Academy for the Performing Arts, Sabo School of Irish Dance, the Schuylkill County Scream Queens and Hillside SPCA, among other organizations.

Music will be provided by the Hawk Mountain Highlanders, Nittany Highland Pipe Band, the Shenandoah All-Star Polka Band, the Pottsville Area High School band and North Schuylkill High School band.

Other parade participants include Pottsville Mayor Dave Clews, Pottsville City Council members, Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary J. Hess, the Pottsville Police Department, and state Rep. Tim Twardzik, R-123, Butler Twp., who will have his own firetruck.

Unlike past years, the parade will not end with a traditional after-party at the Humane Fire Company.

Instead, a host of city businesses will hold their own St. Patrick's-themed events in conjunction with the parade.

For example, the Park Tavern and Grille will hold a "Grand Irish Celebration" starting at 11 a.m., including Irish food, drink specials, step dancers, bagpipers and giveaways, with live music by Dave Derbes, Scott Bacon and Tommy Dee.

Meanwhile, Pilger Ruh Brewery will hold a pop-up event in a tent near the brewery, Young said.

Before the parade, there will be a Mass at 8 a.m. at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral, followed by a special, sold-out breakfast at the Crimson House for the grand marshals and other public figures.

Young said the parade will likely attract a crowd from the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad's monthly Pottsville excursion, which will take passengers from Reading to Pottsville's Union Station on Saturday. The train will arrive in Pottsville at 11 a.m. and depart at 4:30 p.m., giving passengers ample time to explore the city's attractions.

Young said the contributions and support from area businesses, such as Hydro and Weis Markets, helped make the parade possible.

"The Pottsville St. Patrick's parade was always a big part of the city," said Dan Koury, a member of the parade committee and of the AOH. "This collaboration with the PBA will really open that up."

In case of inclement weather, Young said, the parade committee will announce by 7 p.m. Friday if the parade will be canceled or postponed.

Contact the writer: hlee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6085