Erin Kathleen Bridgid Keating thought the phone call might be a joke. It wasn’t. The Scranton School District superintendent will be grand marshal of the Scranton St. Patrick’s Parade.

“I was just humbled and flattered, to be honored in this way, and to be able to represent the Scranton School District in this capacity,” she said.

The parade is one of the biggest annual events in Scranton. It steps off Saturday, March 14, at 11:45 a.m. on Wyoming Avenue near Mulberry Street.

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The countdown to parade day includes Firkin Friday at Cooper’s Seafood House. Principals from the St. Patrick’s Parade Association of Lackawanna County and Cooper’s who gathered recently to discuss plans include Jesse Cooper, Steve Cooper, Ryan Cooper, Sean O’Shea, Paul Cooper, Jude McDonough, the 2026 president; Kyle Donahue, PJ Lehey and Tim Holmes. (COURTESY OF ST. PATRICK’S PARADE ASSOCIATION OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY)

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A bagpiper plays along Wyoming Avenue during a previous annual St. Patrick’s Parade in downtown Scranton.(STAFF PHOTO)

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The countdown to parade day includes Firkin Friday at Cooper’s Seafood House. Principals from the St. Patrick’s Parade Association of Lackawanna County and Cooper’s who gathered recently to discuss plans include Jesse Cooper, Steve Cooper, Ryan Cooper, Sean O’Shea, Paul Cooper, Jude McDonough, the 2026 president; Kyle Donahue, PJ Lehey and Tim Holmes. (COURTESY OF ST. PATRICK’S PARADE ASSOCIATION OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY)

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The Daughters of the American Revolution, Civil War reenactors and similar groups will be among the 12,000 or more marchers. Their role is to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary. They are calling it the “Eras Tour,” a play on Taylor Swift’s recent concert tour.

The first parade party of the season is the Firkin Tapping fundraiser Friday, Feb. 27, at 5 p.m. at Cooper’s Seafood House, 701 N. Washington Ave.

The firkin — that’s a cask of beer — will be tapped promptly at 5 p.m. Admission is free and all proceeds from every pint sold from the special cask will go directly to supporting the parade.

Keating is being honored not just as superintendent, but for her work in the community, said Jude McDonough, president of the parade association. He cited her work with the United Way, Johnson College and the Scranton Area Foundation, among other efforts.

“We have a good relationship with the district,” McDonough said.

As grand marshal, Keating will be marching in the parade for the first time, after a lifetime of watching parades in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. She only wishes her father, Jack Keating, and his brothers and sisters were alive to enjoy it.

“They would have been out in full force, because when you grow up in that heritage, and that just, pride, in being Irish, to have someone in your family recognized in a capacity like this, is just really something that’s truly awesome,” she said. “My mom and I actually had a very great laugh sitting back going, ‘Oh God, if the Keatings were all still here, they’d be out in full force for this one.’”

Her mother, Gina Keating, will be in the crowd with relatives and friends watching her walk the parade route.

Keating became superintendent in 2024, leaving the same role in the Old Forge School District. It was a return to a district where she previously held other roles in central administration. She was also previously principal of Wyoming Valley West Middle School in Kingston. Keating began her career teaching English.

She holds a doctorate in education from Wilkes University.

The Parade Association also announced additional parade dignitaries. The honorary grand marshal is John Ventura, the parade marshal is Michael Brown and the honorary parade marshal is Michael Kelly. The parade dedication is in memory of Tim Lynady, Paul Hart, John E. “Star” Kelly, Gerry Gaughan and Thomas “Beansie” Culkin.

Wilkes-Barre’s parade is March 15. Those dignitaries are traditionally announced closer to the event.