17-03-2025
Downtown Erie goes green for annual St. Patrick's Day parade
Four-leaf clovers, leprechauns and Lucky Lou's were all found in downtown Erie Saturday afternoon as the annual St. Patrick's Day parade marched down State Street.
All you could see was a sea of green along State Street and although it was pretty windy, the rain held until the very end of the parade and it was a great turnout.
'Top of the morning to you, darling,' said Michele Wheaton, Lady of Saint Patrick. 'To be Irish is to love the day, to love the land and to love everybody.'
The clouds took over the skies but that didn't stop spectators from finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow …
Erie's annual St. Patrick's Day parade stepped off in downtown Erie, marking their largest parade since the pandemic.
Over 75 groups decked themselves out in every shade of green and showed off their festive floats.
'We have marching bands, we have performers, we have families that just get together and march together. It's a great spot to witness everything that's great about our community. It's for Irish heritage but it also to celebrate everything that's great about Erie,' said Dave Tamulonis, events & marketing manager for the erie downtown partnership.
In partnership with the Erie Downtown Partnership, the parade was hosted by the Knights and Ladies of Saint Patrick.
'Its inception was in 1987 and it was meant to bring people to Saint Patrick's and cause a little bit of a family to grow and it has done its job well,' Wheaton said.
Wheaton said she was looking forward to having some green beer after the parade but by this time, some spectators already had their fair share.
'We are enjoying ourselves in beautiful downtown Erie on this windy day,' said Claire Baillie, a parade spectator. 'We are celebrating St. Patrick's Day!'
'Having green eggs in the morning it's a tradition now and just hanging out with friends and enjoying the beautiful Erie atmosphere,' said Katie Teschler, a parade spectator.
Best friends Claire and Katie were sure to make time for the parade and brought plenty of Irish spirit.
'In these times that we have in sadness, there is happiness on the other side of the rainbow,' Baillie said.
And no matter your background, one thing's for sure, everyone is Irish this weekend.
'We got all the green that we had and wore it,' said Emma Henry, another spectator.
'May the road rise to meet you, may the sun always be at your back and may the devil not know that you're dead until you're well on your way to heaven,' Wheaton said.
'Happy Saint Patrick's Day!' A group of high school girls went on to say.
Myself and our very own JET 24 crew also made an appearance in the parade.
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