BY ALEXIS WARD
The grass may not be green yet in Scranton, but the streets certainly will be this weekend.
The St. Patrick’s Parade Day Association of Lackawanna County presents the annual St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 14, in the city.
The festivities begin downtown with a Parade Day Mass in St. Peter’s Cathedral, 315 Wyoming Ave., at 10 a.m. followed by the Brian P. Kelly Memorial St. Patrick’s Parade 2-Mile Footrace at 11. The course, run entirely on the parade route, starts and ends in front of Scranton Cultural Center at The Masonic Temple, 420 N. Washington Ave. Registration runs that morning from 9 to 10:30 at Lackawanna College Student Union Center, 600 Jefferson Ave. Pre-registered runners can pick up their packages from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 13, at Scranton Running Co., 3 W. Olive St. Registration costs $12 in advance and $15 that day.
The parade then steps off at 11:45 a.m. at Mulberry Street and Wyoming Avenue. Marchers head toward Linden Street and then make a left onto Lackawanna Avenue, which bends onto Jefferson Avenue, before turning left onto Spruce Street. After a final right turn onto North Washington Avenue, the parade passes the reviewing booth by the courthouses and ends at North Washington Avenue and Vine Street.
This year’s dignitaries include Grand Marshal Martin Crofton, Honorary Grand Marshal Albert P. O’Donnell, Parade Marshal Dr. W. David FitzPatrick, Honorary Parade Marshal Kaddy Clarke and Parade President Al O’Donnell. The parade is dedicated to the late William Martellaro.
Several downtown streets close by 9:30 a.m. that day, so guests should arrive early to find parking. The parade is estimated to run slightly under three and a half hours. As of press time, AccuWeather forecasts predicted cloudy conditions and temperatures in the low 50s.
For updates and more information, visit stpatparade.com and the Scranton St. Patrick Parade Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
The night before
Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum, 22 Bald Mountain Road, McDade Park, Scranton, hosts Parade Day Eve on Friday, March 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. The night features food catered by POSH at the Scranton Club, drinks, raffles and entertainment by bagpiper Bill White, the Emerald Isle Step Dancers and the Quietmen. Tickets cost $25 and are available by calling 570-963-4804.
Carbondale will host its second Lighted St. Patrick’s Parade on Friday at 7 p.m. Participants will line up at 6 p.m. on Main Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues and then march along Main Street for about five blocks. Immediately following the parade, live music, bagpiping and refreshments will be available at the Anthracite Center, 41 N. Main St.
Legendary Celtic band Kilrush, meanwhile, will perform at PJ’s 1910 Pub at Hilton Scranton and Conference Center, 100 Adams Ave., on Friday at 8 p.m.
Early-bird Parade Day specials
Hilton Scranton and Conference Center offers a breakfast buffet in its restaurant, Casey’s Corner, from 6:30 to 11 a.m. After breakfast, head to the hotel bar for $10 general admission and specials on beers, Jell-o shots and Irish coffee from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Hilton also will host entertainment by the Chatter and DJ Illusions plus a karaoke sing-along with Marilyn Kennedy.
Cooper’s Seafood House, 701 N. Washington Ave., serves an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet starting at 8 a.m. The menu includes omelette and Belgian waffle stations along with potatoes, bacon, Danishes, muffins, juice, coffee, tea and more for $15 (including tax and tip) per adult and $5 per child 10 and younger. Walk-ins are welcome, though reservations are strongly suggested; call 570-346-7049 or visit coopers-seafood.com.
Backstreets Tiki Bar and Grille, 2225 Jackson St., serves breakfast starting at 9 a.m. and a Guinness stew or corned beef and cabbage lunch special from 11 a.m. The eatery also will present live music by John Quinn, Ron Morgan and the Jeffrey James Band. Tickets are available at the bar for $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Visit the Facebook event page for details.
ACCESS NEPA FILE PHOTO
Irish step dancers perform on North Washington Avenue during the Scranton St. Patrick’s Parade.
Downtown Scranton events
AV restaurant, 320 Penn Ave., opens at 10 a.m. and offers brunch until noon followed by lunch from 1 to 4 p.m. AV will have mimosa, beer and Bloody Mary stations, and DJs will spin all day long. Tickets are $60, and only 150 tickets are available. They must be purchased in advance by visiting eventbrite.com.
Backyard Ale House, 523 Linden St., opens at 9 a.m. with $5 admission, which increases to $10 after 10 a.m. Domestic beer specials run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and guests can enjoy live entertainment.
Levels Bar & Grill, 519 Linden St., opens also opens at 9 a.m. and offers all-day entertainment from the Tommy Guns Band, Black Tie Stereo, Kevin Miller’s Smashed, Flaxy Morgan and Another Day Dawns plus DJs Rich Steele, Fritz, NRG and EFX. Visit the Facebook event page for details.
The Railyard, 119 Jefferson Ave., celebrates its grand opening at 9 a.m. with live bands Light Up the Moon, High Five Swan Dive, the Boastfuls and Graces Downfall as well as DJs N9NE, Jay Velar, Hersh, Tonez, Mixology and Ricky Via. General admission tickets cost $25 in advance and $30 at the door; VIP admission is available for $65 at eventbrite.com only.
Whiskey Dick’s, 308 N. Washington Ave., opens at 9 a.m. with DJ Elite. For a $3 cover fee, guests can enjoy Happy Hour specials until 11 a.m., including Pabst Blue Ribbon cans, fireball shots and monkey bombs.
Radisson at Lackawanna Station hotel, 700 Lackawanna Ave., hosts two parties. Admission costs $25 for the indoor Trax VIP Party, which runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and features music by Tribes and DJ Nino Blanco; tickets are available at radissonscrantonevents.com. Outdoors, Shamrockfest goes from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a performance by Nowhere Slow. Tickets cost $15 and will be available at the door.
Rocky’s Lounge, 141 Jefferson Ave., opens at 9 a.m. and hosts a DJ from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For details, call 570-348-0351.
Harry’s cocktail bar, 302 Penn Ave., also opens 9 a.m. Entertainment by the Barrel Chested Beer Bellies Band starts at 11:30 a.m. The cover is $5.
Outside center city
Stalter’s Cafe, 872 Providence Road, Scranton, hosts bagpipers and DJ Jamie Callen. Doors open at 7 a.m. with no cover fee. Visit Stalter’s Facebook page for details.
Finnegan’s Irish Rock Club, 514 Ash St., Scranton, which opens at 11 a.m., presents live music all day, with the Maguas performing from noon to 2:30 p.m.; UUU, 3 to 7; and the Taxmen, 7 to 10. The cover costs $15.Dunn’s Tavern, 905 S. Main Ave., Scranton, opens at 11 a.m. with drink specials, including iced tea and mixers.
Andy Gavin’s, 1392 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, opens at noon and serves traditional Irish fare. Entertainment follows at 3 and 8 p.m. with a visit from bagpipers during the day. For more information, call 570-346-8864.
In the midvalley, Thirst-T’s Bar & Grill, 120 Lincoln St., Olyphant, opens at 9 a.m. and broadcasts the parade live on big-screen TVs. Live music starting at 3 p.m. includes the Wanabees, the Maguas and the Greater Scranton Black Diamonds Pipe Band. And Kenny’s Pub, 153 Spruce St., Archbald, opens 2 p.m. and offers ham and cabbage dinners for dining in or takeout. The eatery will present music by Dr. Clair Kenny on piano, the Kerry Kenny Irish Band with Leo Schott, John F. Kennedy, Skins McFadden, Liam, Julian and more. Call 570-904-1095 or visit facebook.com/KennysPub for more information.
JASON FARMER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Michael Badyrka of Pittston dresses up for the St. Patrick’s Parade in Scranton.
Family-friendly activities
The 11th annual St. Paddy’s Day Stache Bash returns to POSH at the Scranton Club, 404 N. Washington Ave., on Parade Day from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Guests will find a gourmet breakfast buffet and open draft bar, DJ, dancing, bagpipers, games and mustache awards plus a view of the parade. Tickets, available through eventbrite.com, cost $37 for the breakfast and bar option, $23 for the non-alcoholic breakfast, $15 for children 12 and younger and $1 for children 4 and younger.
Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple, 420 N. Washington Ave., invites the public into its Grand Ballroom for all-ages fun from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring music by Kilrush as well as special guests from along the parade route. Admission is free, with food and drinks available for purchase.
The days after
Ale Mary’s at the Bittenbender, 126 Franklin Ave., Scranton, hosts its second Hangover Brunch on Sunday, March 15, from noon to 8 p.m. Visit the Facebook event page for details.
Peculiar Slurp, 307 Penn Ave., Scranton, hosts the Day After Brunch Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests are encouraged to use OpenTable.com to reserve seats for parties of four or larger. Call 570-800-1900 or visit the Facebook event page for more information.
Thirst T’s Bar & Grill, 120 Lincoln St., Olyphant, hosts John Quinn for Irish Taco Tuesday on March 17, from 7 to 10 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m., and guests can grab dinner, Irish tacos and whiskey specials. For details, visit the Facebook event page.
Contact the writer: award@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9127
Caitlin Heaney West is the content editor for Access NEPA and oversees the Early Access blog in addition to working as a copy editor and staff writer for The Times-Tribune. An award-winning journalist, she is a summa cum laude graduate of Shippensburg University and also earned a master’s degree from Marywood University. Caitlin joined the Times-Shamrock family in 2009 and lives in Scranton. Contact: cwest@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5107; or @cheaneywest
