The Pittston St. Patrick’s Parade is Saturday, with pipe and drum corps, floats and costumed dogs, but no race and walk.
The city canceled the traditional pre-parade race/walk, citing concerns about snow and the state of the roads following a harsh winter. The parade committee objected. Snow from recent storms has melted and good weather is expected on parade day, said committee chair Sarah Cianfichi.
City officials could not be reached for comment, but in a February Facebook post, Mayor Michael Lombardo said it was a matter of safety.
The parade will be in fine form when it steps off at 11:30 a.m., Cianfichi said. She expects around 1,500 marchers, including four pipe and drum bands and several new marching groups.
John “Casey” Donahue, grand marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Pittston. (COURTESY OF THE PITTSTON ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE COMMITTEE)
Members of the Avoca Ancient Order of Hibernians throw candy from their float during the 12th annual Pittston St. Patrick’s Parade, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (KRISTEN MULLEN / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
The Pittston tomato mascot greets parade goers during the 12th annual Pittston St. Patrick’s Parade, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (KRISTEN MULLEN / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
Members of the Avoca Boy Scouts proceed along the parade route during the 12th annual Pittston City St. Patrick’s Parade. (KRISTEN MULLEN / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER)
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John “Casey” Donahue, grand marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Pittston. (COURTESY OF THE PITTSTON ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE COMMITTEE)
The grand marshal will be John “Casey” Donahue. He has been a parade volunteer since its start and has been an officer of the Jenkins Twp. Fire Department for 50 years. He served on the Pittston Area School Board and has been involved with the Greater Pittston Stoners soccer organization, the former Greater Pittston Jaycees, the Luzerne County Democratic Committee and the Greater Pittston YMCA.
The SPCA of Luzerne County is marching again, which Cianfichi singled out as her favorite unit. Volunteers dress adoptable dogs in St. Patrick’s Day bandanas or costumes. “I love the tutus,” Cianfichi said.
The SPCA won’t choose which dogs march until the last minute, when they choose the friendliest on hand at the shelter. At least some will probably be pit bulls, as that is the breed most frequently brought to the shelter, said Carol Amos, the SPCA volunteer education coordinator.
“It’s a little stressful to get the dogs organized and there, but once we get there it is a lot of fun,” Amos said.
The crowds are welcome to meet the dogs, she said. She doesn’t recall parade dogs being adopted, but it does spark interest in the shelter.
Parade crowds can expect a new float decorated as a pot of gold, with a rainbow and leprechaun. It is a solo project, not a group entry. Leo Turissini is mounting it on the chassis of a motorized wheelchair. Turissini is a retired Realtor who lives near Selinsgrove and builds parade floats as a hobby. “I like to tinker,” he said.
The Luzerne County Democratic Party, the Special Olympics and some businesses are among the new entries.
While Pittston, home of the 4-decade-old Tomato Festival, might be better known for its Italian heritage, Cianfichi estimates that there are an equal amount of Irish roots. She has both.
“I think we are doing a pretty good job bringing the Irish pride back,” she said. This will be the 13th parade.
Other St. Patrick’s parades
Parade day in Scranton is Saturday, March 14. It begins with Mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral at 10 a.m. and the Brian Kelly Memorial race at 11. The parade will step off at 11:45 on Wyoming Avenue, near Mulberry Street. Visit stpatparade.com for information.
Pottsville’s Leo F. Haley St. Patrick’s Day Parade is also Saturday, March 14, at noon. It’s the 50th annual parade.
The Wilkes-Barre parade is Sunday, March 15, at 2 p.m. and starts at South Main and South streets. The Inaugural Diamond City Shamrock 5K Run/Walk to fight colorectal cancer begins at 11 a.m. Register at my.raceresult.com/379842/info.