In its 13th year, the Pittston City St. Patrick’s Parade fills the city’s South Main Street with a sea of green.

PITTSTON, Pa. — Thousands of people gathered in green along South Main Street in Pittston to celebrate what organizers call the best small St. Patrick’s parade in the country.

“It is! It is. It really is,” says Joanne Hoover from Hughestown. Hoover attends the parade every year. 

This is the Pittston City St. Patrick’s parade. Organizers say the 80 groups, including bagpipe bands, Irish step dancers, local businesses, and local school bands, are what have kept the parade going strong for 13 years.

For many people in the area, the parade has become a family tradition. Aiden Garrison from Moosic attends the parade with his grandma and chosen family every year. “I get to spend time with them. My grandma. My best friend’s mom and dad, and Kayden,” says Garrison. 

Amy Widelick from Wilkes-Barre brought her 2-year-old nephew, Quinn Widelich, who loves the Irish festivities so much that he came dressed up as a bagpiper. “My nephew loves the back pipes, and loves all about St. Patrick’s Day and bands, so we had to make sure we got him out to see all of the festivities,” says Widelich.

Irish or not, parade day means party time for everyone in the city of Pittston.

“Oh, I totally agree. You can just tell by the crowds. Everybody is decked out. Everybody is excited, so you know lots of fun,” says Widelick.

The fun could be heard with every scream and cheer from the crowd, especially with this lucky float that got people a little wet. The Lucky Float was made to look like a huge pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. At the top of the rainbow was a skeletal leprechaun spraying water into the crowd. 

Alexis Gallagher lives in Philadelphia, but is originally from Pittston. She grew up alongside the parade. “Just the community itself in general and being around everybody. I feel like it’s very lively and everyone is in a good mood,” says Gallagher.

Parade organizers say they believe this was the biggest Pittston City St. Patrick’s Parade yet.