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Scranton St. Patrick's Parade steps off Saturday

It will be Scranton's lucky day Saturday with thousands of revelers filling downtown as the St. Patrick's Parade Association of Lackawanna County presents the annual St. Patrick's Parade. Green traffic lines have been painted along the parade route and city officials raised the Irish flag in front of City Hall with members of the Irish American Association of Lackawanna County this week in preparation for the annual spectacle that celebrates Irish heritage. Several downtown streets will close by 9:30 a.m. on parade day, so guests should arrive early to find parking available in the several parking garages downtown or elsewhere on streets. The parade starts at 11:45 a.m. and is estimated to run slightly under 3‍½ hours. Here's what else to know for parade day: Parade Day Mass The annual event begins with a parade day Mass at St. Peter's Cathedral, 315 Wyoming Ave., at 10 a.m., celebrated by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, bishop of Scranton. The Mass honors the struggles and sacrifices of St. Patrick, who is credited with introducing Christianity to the people of Ireland. Bambera follows a long line of notable celebrants of the parade day Mass, including several archbishops and cardinals. Memorial race The Mass is followed by the Brian P. Kelly Memorial St. Patrick's Parade 2-Mile Footrace at 11 a.m. The race course, run entirely on the parade route, starts and ends in front of the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple, 420 N. Washington Ave. The race follows the parade route backward to a 1-mile turnaround point in front of St. Peter's Cathedral. Registration the day of the race is $15, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. across from Scranton City Hall at 341 N. Washington Ave. The race director is Dan King, assistant race directors are Robert Kern and John Grzenda, and race director emeritus is Mike O'Malley. Brian P. Kelly was the 2004 St. Patrick's Parade Association president, who lost a 1‍½-year battle with cancer Jan. 24, 2004. * Scranton officials and members of the Irish American Association of Lackawanna County raised the Irish flag above city hall Wednesday. Participating in the flag raising event were, from left, Thom Welby, district office director for state Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski, Council President Gerald Smurl, Irish American Association President Tim Kelly, Allen Shoen, Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and city solicitor andSt. Patrick's Parade President Thomas Gilbride. (Submitted) * Scranton DPW employee Gene Reed paints the center line on Lackawanna Avenue green for the St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Scranton Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * STAFF The Penn York Highlanders Bagpipe Band from Athens march down Lackawanna Ave. in Scranton during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2019. Jason Farmer / Staff Photographer Show Caption 1 of 3 Scranton officials and members of the Irish American Association of Lackawanna County raised the Irish flag above city hall Wednesday. Participating in the flag raising event were, from left, Thom Welby, district office director for state Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski, Council President Gerald Smurl, Irish American Association President Tim Kelly, Allen Shoen, Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and city solicitor andSt. Patrick's Parade President Thomas Gilbride. (Submitted) Expand What's the parade route? After the race, the parade will step off at 11:45 a.m. at Mulberry Street and Wyoming Avenue. Marchers go past Linden Street and make a left turn onto Lackawanna Avenue. The parade then turns onto Jefferson Avenue and left onto Biden Street. After a right turn onto North Washington Avenue, the parade passes the reviewing booth near the county and federal courthouses and ends at North Washington Avenue and Vine Street. Who is participating? Dignitaries include Grand Marshal John Madden, honorary grand marshals the Cooper family, Parade Marshal Raymond Lynady, Honorary Parade Marshal John Michaely, Native Son Marty Ratchford and Parade President Thomas Gilbride. In addition, Dunmore native Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, winners of this year's NFL Super Bowl, is expected to march in this year's parade. What should I know about parking? Parking is available around the parade route in downtown Scranton, as well as at the Marketplace at Steamtown parking lot. Scranton police will enforce parking bans on the parade route from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. What will the weather be like? Sunny skies will shine over the parade, according to the National Weather Service. However, it will be chilly and windy, with the temperature reaching 37 degrees, with occasional wind gusts up to 25 mph, according to Bryan Greenblatt, a meteorologist at the NWS Binghamton, New York, office. Organizers advise guests to keep an eye on the weather and dress accordingly. For updates and information, visit or the Scranton St. Patrick Parade Facebook page.