SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE\/WYOU) \u2014 Thousands in Lackawanna County look forward to parade day year after year, but the celebration also draws in quite the crowd from out of town.<\/p>\n
28\/22 News reporter Avery Nape stopped by a hotel in Scranton Friday afternoon to find out where people are coming from, and what made them decide on the Electric City.<\/p>\n
Flags donning green, white, and orange line the streets of downtown Scranton; A sure sign that parade day is here once again. Each year the celebration draws thousands, not just from NEPA, but out of state too.<\/p>\n
Scranton\u2019s St. Patrick\u2019s Parade is a tradition many look forward to, but for one couple from Maryland, it\u2019s a first.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re so excited to be here and partake in the festivities, and we just walked into the hotel and there\u2019s bagpipers playing,\u201d said Lucille Brennan, who is visiting from Maryland.<\/p>\n
Her husband Jerry asked, \u201cI heard this is like one of the biggest ones on the east coast or something. I don\u2019t know, is that true?\u201d<\/p>\n
It sure is, in fact it\u2019s one of the largest in the country. Each year around 150,000 people make their way to the electric city to watch, and around 12,000 participate. One of those participants, who\u2019s been coming to the parade from New York City since 1999 is already celebrating.<\/p>\n
\u201cI already have beer in my hand, and I don\u2019t even have a coat on, so I\u2019m ready to go,\u201d said Kevin Diegnan, a Drum Sergeant for the New York City Department of Sanitation\u2019s pipe and drum band.<\/p>\n
The famous 5th Avenue parade in NYC draws around 2 million spectators each year with around 150,000 participants; and, while it dwarfs Scranton\u2019s celebration on paper, Diegnan says Scranton holds its own.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019ve ever seen the New York City 5th Avenue parade it\u2019s very close to it. A lot of people come, a lot of cheering, a lot of good bands show up here,\u201d Diegnan said.<\/p>\n
Visitors were keen to celebrate whether or not they were Irish.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m Irish, my mother\u2019s from Killarney, my father\u2019s from Roscommon, I\u2019m a Yankee,\u201d Diegnan said.<\/p>\n
Lucille Brennan was excited to be at the parade, despite her lack of Irish heritage.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery Saint Patrick\u2019s Day I\u2019m Irish,\u201d Lucille Brennan said.<\/p>\n
A feeling that many likely share as we head into the big weekend. The Scranton Saint Patrick\u2019s Parade steps off Saturday at 11:45 a.m.<\/p>\n
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