15-03-2025
Tyrone Irish Heritage Weekend brings festivities, parade, and local business boost
TYRONE, Pa. (WTAJ) — Crowds filled the streets of Tyrone on Saturday as the town celebrated its annual Irish Heritage Weekend with a parade, live music, and local vendors, giving businesses and community groups a chance to shine.
The day started with the Gold Rush 5K and 10K races near the Tyrone Armory, followed by a kid's sprint and awards ceremony. At Hotel City Park, the Horseshoe Cloggers and the Celtic-rock band Full Kilt entertained attendees.
For pet lovers, the 'top of the morning' dog fashion show was a highlight. Drew Campbell, a Tyrone resident, enjoyed seeing the community come together for the event. 'Oh, it's great to bring the dogs out and all the people interact with all that and the dogs, and it's a lot of fun,' Campbell said.
Gardners Candies introduced a new mascot, marking a historic moment for the business. 'We've been at Gardners since 1897, and they, you know, have never really had a mascot. And they thought it was time to do it,' Robin Cushion, manager of the Tyrone Gardners store, said. She encouraged visitors to submit name ideas, adding, 'If you do name the mascot, you get a year's supply of peanut butter meltaways.
Wanna help name the new Gardners Candies mascot? Here's how
Beyond the festivities, local organizations saw the event as an opportunity to raise awareness. Crystal Kyle, a rider with American Legion Riders Post 520, said they used the weekend to encourage more people to get involved. 'Mainly it is getting our name out and participating with the people and getting younger people involved, because right now we don't have enough young people within our Legion riders,' Kyle said.
The Central PA Autism Community also used the event to connect with attendees. 'Again, our group is completely donation and fundraiser based. So to get our name out there, for them to come up and even learn anything about us, it's very important to us,' Krista Frye, the Central PA Autism Community secretary, said.
The day's biggest attraction was the Luck of the Irish parade, which began at 2 p.m. on Lincoln Avenue and ended at the Tyrone Armory community center. Businesses throughout town, like The Brew and Bake Shop Bakes, welcomed the large crowds with themed specials.
With visitors coming from across the region, Irish Heritage Weekend not only brought a festive atmosphere ahead of St. Patrick's Day, but also boosted local businesses.
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