St. Patrick's Day Parade

The City of Wilkes-Barre’s 44^th St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Sunday, March 10, 2024

Mayor George C. Brown invites residents and visitors to celebrate the 44^th St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which will begin at 2:00 PM on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at the intersection of South and South Main Streets. Participants will line up for the parade between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM in their designated areas. This year's parade will include over 100 groups and over 1,500 participants, including local leaders, non-profit organizations, businesses, youth groups, pageant title holders, and local emergency response units. 

 PARADE ROUTE

• Begins on South Main Street at South Street
• Travels along South Main Street.
• Around Public Square towards East Market Street
• Ends at the intersection of North Main and Union Streets

For the safety of everyone enjoying the parade, please stay behind all marked lines and barricades along the parade route. Participants in the parade are prohibited from throwing candy and/or promotional material during the parade, for safety reasons. This restriction will be strictly enforced for all participants before the parade steps off.

ROAD CLOSURES

On Sunday, March 10th, beginning at 12 PM, St. Patrick’s Day Parade Road Closures begin and continue through approximately 4 PM, for the following streets:

• South Main Street from Dana Street through Public Squ
• Hazle Street from South Main to South Washington
• Ross Streets from South Franklin to South Washington
• South Street from South Franklin to South Washington
• E. Northampton St. from S. Franklin to South Washington
• E. Market St. from S. Washington St. to Public Square 
• W. Market St. from S. Franklin St. to Public Square

No Parking Along Parade Route

Meters will be bagged and there will be “No Parking” notices posted along the parade route, on West South Street, between South Franklin and South Main Street, East South Street between South Main and South Washington Street, West Northampton between South Franklin and South Main Street, South Main Street from Ross Street, around Public Square, and on North Main Street to Union Street, beginning Saturday, March 9^th at 8:00 AM. Ticketing to commence at  10:00 AM on Sunday, March 10^th and towing to commence at 12:00 PM.

To avoid towing and fines, parade spectators and participants are advised to adhere to both public and private “No Parking” Zones.

LIVE BROADCAST

Service Electric Network (SEN) will present a live broadcast of the parade, beginning at 2 p.m. Coverage will include two SEN co-hosts providing commentary, and will air live exclusively on Service Electric Cable channel 2 (SD) and 502 (HD) starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 10^th.

GRAND MARSHAL & HONORARY GRAND MARSHAL

The 44^th Parade will be led by GRAND MARSHAL Wilkes-Barre City Police Chief Joseph Coffay. Chief Coffay’s family has a strong Irish heritage. His ancestry can be traced to County Mayo, Ireland, where he still has relatives.

Chief Coffay is a 38-year police veteran serving the last 33 years in the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department. During his career, he rose through the ranks and currently serves as the Chief of Police. During his career he has specialized training and assignments in drug law enforcement serving the department as a sergeant and narcotics detective in charge of the state drug task force. He continued his career in drug law enforcement as a Federal Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Philadelphia Field Division, Scranton RO for twelve years.

He returned to the Wilkes-Barre Police Department as a Captain of Investigations where he continued the supervision of the Investigations Division, Narcotics Unit and Emergency Services Unit until his appointment as the Chief of Police. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from King’s College with a minor in psychology. He is a graduate of the Police Executive Development Program from Penn State University, FBI LEEDA courses, Police Media Relations Course Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Counter Terrorism Task Force and is a graduate of the Drug Unit Commanders Academy U.S Department of Justice in Quantico, Virginia. He is an adjunct professor in Criminal Justice for the Luzerne County Community College and is an active softball coach for Holy Redeemer High School.

He has been married to his wife Arlene for the past 25 years. They have one daughter, Kristen, who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown and now attends the University of Scranton in their master’s program.

Mayor George C. Brown has named Jennifer Gowan as the HONORARY GRAND MARSHAL of the 44^th Wilkes-Barre City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Jennifer Gowan is one of the young adults that inspired Mayor Brown and the Special Needs Playground Committee to raise funds to build the Special Needs Playground at Kirby Park. She loves to color pictures, play games on her tablet, and watch her favorite shows: Reba, Roseann, and Walker, Texas Ranger. Her favorite movies are Grease and Dirty Dancing. She is always smiling, likes to go shopping, and loves dancing.

ENTERTAINMENT

Live entertainment for the 2024 parade includes: Wyoming Valley Pipe & Drum Band, Greater Scranton Black Diamonds Pipe Band, Ceol Mor Pipe & Drum, Jonathan Detres Bagpiper of the Newark Firefighters Pipes and Drum Band, DonnyBrook, Polka Bandski, Syracuse Scottish Pipe Band, Penn York Highlanders Ladies from Hell Pipe & Drum Band, Connemara Irish Dancers, and Joyce School of Irish Dance

SPONSORS
Mayor Brown thanks the parade’s sponsors and in-kind donors for their generosity:
 

Parade Balloon Sponsors: BHW Construction Consultation Services, Inc. and Mohegan Pennsylvania

Pot of Gold Sponsors: McCarthy Tire Service

Leprechaun Sponsors: Diamond City Partnership, Franchelli Enterprises, Highmark, Petroleum Service Company, and Service Electric Cable TV and Communications

Shamrock Sponsors: City Centre by Amato Properties, Elliott, Greenleaf & Dean, L.T. Verrastro, Inc., PennEastern Engineers, LLC., PNC, Rodano’s/Franklin’s, Visit Luzerne County, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP).

Additional donations provided by Trans-Med Ambulance, and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Thank you to Mountain Productions for the parade fencing. The City thanks Service Electric for their live broadcast of the parade. Thank you to the GEM 99& 100, RITMO FM, Times Leader Media Group and the Citizens’ Voice for in-kind advertising of the parade.

Division #1

Float/Vehicle/Walker Line-Up Location: intersection of South Main and South Streets on the left side of the street.

1. Wilkes-Barre Police Department Lead Car
2. The Gerard Dessoye Wilkes-Barre City Police Department Honor Guard
3. Grand Marshal Wilkes-Barre Police Chief Joe Coffay
4. Honorary Grand Marshal- Jennifer Gowan
5. Wyoming Valley Pipe and Drum Band
6. Mayor George C. Brown and family
7. Wilkes-Barre Elected Officials & Administration: City Council: Tony Brooks, Bill Barrett, Jessica McClay, Stan Mirin and City Controller Tony Thomas
8. Local Elected Officials
9. Luzerne County Manager
10. Luzerne County Council Members Lee Ann McDermott & Gregory Wolovich, Jr.
11. Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce
12. Wilkes-Barre Township Mayor Carl Kuren
13. LCCC President Thomas Leary
14. Lucky Toucan-Held by LCCC Students
15. Past Grand Marshals
16. Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians—Saint John Neumann Division II
17. Ancient Order of Hibernians—Saint John Neumann Division II Wilkes-Barre
18. Greater Wilkes-Barre Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick
19. Notre Dame Club of Hanover Township

Division #2

Float/Vehicle/Walker Line-Up Location:  South Street between South Main and South Franklin

1. Scranton Black Diamonds Pipe Band
2. Wilkes-Barre Fire Department Marching Unit & Honor Guard
3. The Times Leader Media Group
4. Henry Citizens Club
5. Allied Services Meade St
6. Wilkes-Barre Lions Club
7. Wilkes University Alumni Association
8. Wilkes-Barre Scranton Elks
9. Times Shamrock (Rock 107, Q92, ESPN)
10. Darryl & Lauren
11. Shamrock-Held by Leadership W-B
12. UNA, a Non Profit Corporation
13. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders
14. WBS Penguins, Tux, Toyota Sportsplex, & Diamond City Figure Skating Club
15. Jonathan Detres Bagpiper of the Newark Firefighters Pipes and Drum Band
16. Polka Bandski
17. Kingston Huskies
18. Irem Shrine Clowns
19. John Malvizzi Foundation, Inc
20. Cub Scout Pack 100
21. SPCA of Luzerne County
22. Commonwealth Hospice of Berwick
23. Connemara Irish Dancers
24. Shpoppy Shawn Shmoked Cheese
25. Francos

Division #3

Float/Vehicle/Walker Line-Up Location:  S Main St on the Right Side (Facing the Square) between Hazle and Ross St, next to the Post Office

1. Penn York Highlanders Ladies from Hell Pipe & Drum
2. Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame
3. St David’s Society
4. Service Electric Cable TV Communications
5. Corner Post FCU
6. Life Geisinger
7. Joyce School of Irish Dance
8. NEPA Scholarship Competition Association, Inc.
   • Miss Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Victoria Vespico
   • Miss Luzerne County Shakira Jackson
   • Miss Northeastern PA Cara Mia Hogan
   • Miss Wilkes-Barre Scranton’s Teen Arianna Spurlin
   • Miss Luzerne County’s Teen Maille McNicholas
9. 2023-2024 Luzerne County Fair Queen Miss Jules Quare. The 1st Runner up Karlie Marshsllick. 2^nd Runner Up Jade Hillard The 2023-2024 Luzerne County Fair Princess Remi Brennan.
10. Miss Butler County Scholarship: Miss Moraine State’s Teen 2024 Kristen Giffiths
11. DonnyBrook  
12. Dino the Cheerful Dinosaur Held by Soldiers from the 109th Armory
13. The Wright Center
14. Franchelli Enterprises
15. Luzerne County Emergency Services
16. JO-DAN Buick GMC
17. Audacy-98.5 KRZ/ Froggy 101/ LA MEGA 102.3/ WILK
18. Wilkes-Barre Breakers Rugby Club
19. Northeast Veterinary Referral Hospital
20. Harth Enterprise
21. Execution Cycles
22. Bulldog BBQ     

Division #4

Float/Vehicle/Walker Line-Up Location:  Along the Left side (facing Public Square) of South Main Street, at Academy St

1. Ceol More Pipe & Drum
2. IBEW Local Union 163
3. Kuharchik Construction
4. Liberty Tax
5. David Blight School of Dance
6. GAR Middle School Student Council
7. Wilkes-Barre Area Wolfpack Marching Band
8. Wilkes-Barre Bears Football & Cheer
9. Funtimes Cosplay Crew
10. The American academy of Canine Water Rescue
11. WBA CTC Law Enforcement
12. BHW Dragon Held by the CTC Law Enforcement
13. DWBAA featuring The Handsome Devils
14. Discover NEPA  
15. PA Party Rental
16. Riverside Café
17. Ed Lark Hurricanes
18. Wilkes-Barre Warriors Football
19. 1953 Ford Mainline-owner Otway Family
20. Kid Penguin
21. DJ Donnie Evans
22. Main Hardware & Discount Pool Supply
23. Cumulus Radio Group (Magic 93, 979X, HOT 97.1, NASHFM 93.7)
24. Sammy P Cocina
25. Luzerne County Transportation

Division #5

Float/Vehicle/Walker Line-Up Location:  Hazle Street facing South Main Street

1. Syracuse Scottish Pipe Band
2. Wyoming Valley Catholic Youth Center
3. United Blend Community Center
4. Together for Health & Wellness
5. GEM 99 & 100 and Ritmo FM
6. Mohegan PA Pot of Gold
7. Northeast Premier Floors
8. Maple Ridge Rehabilitation & Healthcare
9. Prestige Disposal
10. NEPA Bird Gang
11. Northeast Counseling Services
12. Outback Steakhouse
13. Let’s Party and More with Victor Vega
14. BlackTop Warriors Jeep Club
15. Mission BBQ
16. McCarthy Tire
17. Ayers Towing
18. Trans-Med Ambulance
19. Bear Creek Volunteer Hose Company