02-03-2025
Marshal Mania kickoff party raises funds for 72nd Holyoke Saint Patrick's parade
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – The Holyoke Saint Patrick's parade is just a few weeks away. But the Irish Spirit was felt, during the annual Marshal Mania kickoff party.
It was a sea of green as hundreds came together to celebrate Irish culture and show their support for the 72nd Holyoke Saint Patrick's parade, during the kickoff party.
'We're very, very proud community and we support each other and we love our Irish heritage. We really do,' Catie Scruggs of East Longmeadow.
Live music, food, and raffle baskets were all part of the sold-out event's fifth year at the Log Cabin. The money raised goes towards all the expenses for the parade.
'Every band you see, high school bands, transportation and stuff like that. We have to pay for everything. Everything costs money that goes down that road,' said , co-chair of Marshal Mania, Jeffrey Walsh.
And organizers say their grateful for those who give back to kep this parade going, 'we might not know everybody's name, but they're family and we can't thank them enough for their support,' said Co-chair of Marshal Mania, Johnny Dricol.
The parade has become a beloved tradition for many. The Holyoke grand colleen and her court are excited to be part of it.
'I can speak for everybody when we say we're very excited. We can't wait for the whole weekend of all the festivities and all of that leading up until the big parade day,' said Holyoke grand colleen, Moira Reardon.
The grand marshal, James Lavelle also estatic to be leading the parade this year. 'I'm looking forward to walking with my family. My dad was grand marshal in 1998, so we'll be following in his footsteps. So I'm really happy about that,' expressed Lavelle.
There's only a few more weeks until the parade officially begins, '21 days and lots of events to come and we're ready for the parade,' said Driscoll.
You can watch the parade live on 22News on March 23rd.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on
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