St. Patrick's Day in Pennsylvania
Parades in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Scranton & York PA
Saint Patrick's Day is a holiday with religious origins and political overtones. People of all backgrounds show up for the parade, party and green beer.
Mid March brings the Irish holiday, St. Patrick's Day. Saint Patrick is a Catholic Saint who lived 1,600 years ago. The Catholic Church in Ireland has observed St. Patrick's Day as a religious observance for many centuries.
Early St. Pat's parades in America were held as a show of political power. The power of the Irish vote, called "The Green Machine," was demonstrated as Irish marched the streets with politicians and townspeople.
St. Patrick's celebrations today are joined by people with a variety of backgrounds. The religious and political origins are still evident, but people of different religious beliefs and political affiliations also join in the party. Streets across America fill with marching bands, floats, leprechauns and shamrocks. After the parades, townspeople gather at local pubs, taverns and village halls tor green beer, Irish Whiskey, hearty helpings of corned beef and cabbage. and camaraderie.
Following are St. Pat's Parades in Pennsylvania this year.
- Philadelphia, PA Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Sunday, March 09, Noon to 3:30 pm: The Irish in Philadelphia have celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a parade as early as 1771. Philadelphia's is second oldest parade in the United States, after New York City. The long standing parade, has been held since six years before the Declaration of Independence was signed. The St. Patrick's Day Observance Association has hosted the parade since 1952. Thousands of people, decked out in green, enjoy marching bands, green floats, marching bands, music and a showy extravaganza of a St. Pat's parade. This year's parade will be televised live on CBS 3 and replayed on CW Philly 47 on March 17.
- Harrisburg, PA St. Patrick's Day Parade, Saturday, March 15, 2:00 pm : The parade forms behind the Capitol Building on Commonwealth Avenue. Irish contributions to central Pennsylvania will be celebrated by marching bands, floats and more. There will be High School Bands, Professional Bands, Floats. leprechauns and fun.
- Scranton, PA Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Saturday, March 15, 11:30 am: Scranton has hosted this annual event since 1962. Scranton's parade boasts 9,000 participants with floats, marchers, bagpipe players, marching bands, minstrels, and Irish groups. The event has attracted more then100,000 spectators.
- Pittsburgh, PA Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Saturday, March 15, 10 am: St. Pat's parades have been held in Pittsburgh as early as 1969. Parades features Miss Smiling Irish Eyes, St. Brigid's Court, Marching Banks Floats, Irish Groups and Parade Royalty.
- Allentown St. Patrick's Parade , Sunday, March 30, Noon: Parade day starts with 8 am Mass at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Full Irish breakfast is served at the Knights of Columbus Columbian Home.
- AOH Notre Dame Division 1 Conshohocken Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Saturday, March 8, 2:00 pm: Conshohocken is about 12 miles outside of Philadelphia
- Stroudsburg - East Stroudsburg Saint Patrick's Day Parade. Sunday, March 16, 1 pm
- York St. Patrick's Day Parade, Saturday, March 15, 1 pm: The 25th annual parade will step off from Market and Penn Streets and proceed east on Market. About 100 units will celebrate the Celtic heritage, including marching bands, Irish dance groups, floats, antique vehicles, decorated vehicles, clowns and clans. The parade will lead off with a ten foot tall leprechaun and 32 county flags of Ireland.
Information subject to change. Please do not drink and drink. Choose a designated driver if venturing out to a pub for green beer.
Read about St. Patrick's Parades in: New Jersey, Ohio, Minnesota. New York.
