Save the Date
Parade Day is Saturday, March 11th!
Join us in downtown Scranton to celebrate the day when everyone is Irish!
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Parade Day Mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral begins at 10:00 a.m.
The Brian P. Kelly Memorial 2-mile Footrace starts at 11:00 a.m.
The parade steps off at 11:45 a.m.
We are the second-largest parade in the country based on population*. Every year over 12,000 participants provide entertainment for all who attend.
If you like to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day or simply like to celebrate, come join us in Scranton. Since 1962 the St. Patrick’s Parade Day Association of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania has conducted this nationally acclaimed parade the weekend before the feast of St. Patrick. The “rite of spring” provides enormous stimulation for the young and young-at-heart.
*For cities with a population over 50,000 as measured by participants per population of the city, Savannah, GA is first.
About the Parade
The Saint Patrick’s parade in Scranton boasts 12,000 participants, including multiple bagpipes, high school, and string bands. The parade is enhanced by many floats and large balloons. Many Irish groups and societies are also represented. It has been going on annually since 1962 and is organized by the St. Patrick’s Parade Association of Lackawanna County. The parade has received national attention as being one of the better St. Patrick’s parades. The parade route begins on Wyoming Avenue in front of St. Peter’s Cathedral, proceeds to Lackawanna Avenue over Jefferson Avenue then down Spruce Street to get to North Washington Avenue where it passes the William J. Nealon Federal Building and the reviewing booth.
The parade is preceded by the Parade Day Mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral and the Brian P. Kelly Memorial race.
St. Patrick’s Parade Association of Lackawanna County does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
Parade Route
The Parade route starts at Mulberry Street and Wyoming Avenue. Marchers head towards Linden Street and then take a left onto Lackawanna Avenue. Lackawanna Avenue turns into Jefferson Avenue and then the route turns left onto Spruce Street. After a final right turn onto North Washington, the parade passes the reviewing booth near the corner of North Washington Avenue and Linden Street. The parade ends at the corner of North Washington Avenue and Vine Street.
Brian P. Kelly Race Info
Start: 11:00 a.m. SHARP on the day of the parade. The race will immediately start at 11:00 a.m. so that all runners will have time to pass the turn-around point quickly enough so that the race does not hold up the parade.
Race: This race is the first event of the season and is the oldest road race in the Scranton Area.
Course: This is a 2-mile course. The course is relatively flat with some gently rolling hills. The course will be run entirely on the parade route (see parade route map). It will be an out-and-back course. Notice: please stay to the right at all times so you don’t interfere with the other runners. It will start right in front of the Scranton Cultural Center (420 N Washington Ave) and follow the parade route backwards to the 1-mile turnaround point in front of St Peter’s Cathedral (Wyoming Avenue and Linden Street). The race will finish back in front of the Scranton Cultural Center. The course route is subject to the review and approval of the Race Director. Should changes be made, they will be announced prior to the start.
Registration: Registration on the day of the race, will be from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Lackawanna College Student Union Center (the old CYC) 600 Jefferson Avenue. Registration will end promptly so that runners will have time to get to the starting line. Runners who pre-registered will pick up their race numbers and t-shirts at this time and place. Preregistration will end a week prior to the Race. Souvenir T-shirts are provided by our sponsors and will be given to the first 150 registered runners.
Scranton Running Company, 3 West Olive Street in Scranton, will host a Friday Packet Pickup for preregistered runners the day before the race from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
The cost of pre-registration is $12, and Race day registration is $15. Online registration is available below and a printable form with mailing instructions is available by clicking here.
Finish: The awards ceremony will be held in Lackawanna College Student Union Center, 600 Jefferson Avenue (the old CYC) right after the race and is expected to conclude no later than 12:00 p.m. so that participants and spectators can enjoy the parade.
Awards: Medals will be awarded to the top 2 male and female runners in the following age categories: 12 and under, 13-17, 18-22, 23-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64 and 65+.
Rain Date: If the parade is postponed due to severe weather, the race will also be postponed and held on the same day. Listen to your local radio stations for any special announcements.
Brian P. Kelly was the 2004 St. Patrick’s Parade Association President who lost a year-and-a-half-long battle with cancer on January 24, 2004. Proceeds from the race benefit a scholarship fund for Norah Kelly, Mr. Kelly’s daughter.
Race Directors: Mike O’Malley and Robert Kern
Assistant Race Director: Dan King
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