Holyoke road race & parade preps include parking and safety regulations
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)– The Holyoke Police Department (HPD) is providing guidance for visitors who plan to attend St. Patrick's events in the city this weekend.
For safety concerns, the HPD reminds visitors that backpacks are strongly discouraged during the road race and parade days and that any unattended bags may be searched and removed.
Holyoke prepares safety plan for St. Patrick's Parade
Flying drones over the road race and parade routes are strictly prohibited and anyone flying a drone in those areas will be fined. Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan says there will be around 200 officers on the lines of the parade using the best practices for crowd control.
He says, 'We anticipate a large crowd, but the weather looks great, we've also upped our medical staff due to the weather as there tends to be dehydration sometimes with heat.' For attendees, Keenan says not to bring backpacks, as police prefer open, accessible bags they can see into to keep everyone safe.
Gallon jugs filled with alcoholic beverages (BORGs) are prohibited and will be confiscated. 'We ask that if you see something say something,' Keenan adds. 'Even if you're not sure it's an incident, please say something. There will be police officers and paramedics at everything intersection of the parade, there will be roaming police officers, please say something. No question is insignificant.'
He also stresses no alcohol is to be consumed on city property.
There will be several road closures and parking restrictions throughout the city:
Friday March 21, at approximately 4:30 p.m., no parking signs, DPW no parking cones, or barricades will be located at these streets and intersections below:Dwight Street (Heritage Street to Race Street)Front Street (Dwight Street to Lyman Street)Appleton Street (Heritage Street to Race Street)Hampden Street (Front Street to Beech Street)Heritage Street (Suffolk Street to Dwight Street)Maple Street (St. Kolbe Drive to Resnic Blvd.)South StreetWestfield RoadBeech StreetWinthrop (both sides of street)St. Kolbe Drive (Lyman Street to St. Kolbe Drive)Lyman Street (Front Street to Beech Street)Hillside between Cherry and Winthrop (no parking on both sides of street).
On Saturday March 22nd at 8:00AM, Hampden and Beech Streets and Hampden and Maple Streets will be closed for vehicular traffic.The following streets will be closed at 08:30AM:High and Hampden StreetsLyman and Chestnut StreetsLyman and High StreetsLyman and Front StreetsAt 9:30 a.m. these streets for be closed for vehicular traffic.Dwight and Pine StreetsDwight and Walnut StreetsDwight and Elm StreetsDwight and Chestnut StreetsLyman and Pine StreetsLyman and Walnut StreetsLyman and Elm StreetsLyman and Chestnut Streets
Interim Director of the Greater Holyoke Chamber Lisa Totz tells 22News, 'The business community thrives because the parade happens and we bring people to our community. The economic impact of this weekend's events is a big deal.'
Information about the Holyoke St. Patrick's Road Race and Parade, including the routes and where to park can be found on the Holyoke St. Patrick's Committee website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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