Patrick McGowanIrish or not, Scranton, Pa. was the place to be on March 14.
Thousands gathered on the downtown streets of the city for Scranton’s 48th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
People all over the area make it a yearly ritual to attend.
“I wait for this day every year, you don’t even have to be Irish to enjoy this holiday. It brings people together to have a great time, even people you haven’t seen in awhile,” Ashley Perri, freshman biology major, said.
The parade is the second largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the country, beating out New York City.
Scranton’s parade is known for its energy, excitement and, in true Irish fashion, endless amounts of alcohol and people dressed in green.
Bars in the Scranton area open as early as 9 a.m. for those citizens who are of age.
This is later than previous years, as they usually open at 7:30 a.m. on parade day.
Christopher A. Doherty, mayor of Scranton, requested bars open later this year for safety.
Don’t be fooled by the lavish amounts of people enjoying a drink or two. The parade always promises to be much more than an excuse to get drunk.
Local members of the Scranton community come together for this event to put on an inspiring parade for all.
Police officers, elected officials and other organizations in Scranton took part in the event.
The Scranton City School of the Deaf was one of the groups that marched in the parade.
The school is in jeopardy of being closed due to tax cuts. Various supporters marched alongside students and teachers from the school.
Parade-goers were fortunate enough to receive sunshine on the day of the big parade this year.
A crowd of 100,000 filled Scranton’s Lackawanna Avenue to see the spectacle.
The Grand Marshall of this year’s parade was news anchor and political commentator Chris Matthews.
The number of people at this year’s celebration was the same equivalent to the number of people at last year’s parade. The Grand Marshall at last year’s parade was Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Even though Clinton was not in attendance, the excitement, hooting horns, sirens, bagpipes and kid’s smiles all returned.
Some people traveled from as far as Tennessee to come and watch the parade.
“Honestly, that was the most amazing parade I have ever been to. I’ve never had a crazier time,” Bryan Mandarino, sophomore English major and first-time parade day attendee, said.
