21st St. Patrick’s Day Parade is set to step off Sunday in Jim Thorpe

Carbon County’s tribute to Irish ancestry and heritage will take the stage on Sunday when the 21st annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held, commencing at 1 p.m. in Jim Thorpe.

The highlighting of a weekend of activities, and expected to attract a crowd of close to 10,000 people, the parade will be led by co-grand marshals Noel and Bernadette Behan, longtime Jim Thorpe businesspeople and integral parade committee members since the tradition started back in 1997.

The parade, which will have its start in upper Jim Thorpe (West Broadway), will proceed to the courthouse complex area of town.

It is once again being sponsored by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee of Jim Thorpe and Carbon County Inc., a spinoff of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Alec Campbell Division 1, Carbon County, and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Mollie Maguire Division 1, Carbon County.

In preparation for the parade, Broadway will be closed to all traffic at 11:45 a.m. Sunday.

Since no parking will be available in the downtown area, parking will be provided at the Carbon County parking lot, with additional parking at Jim Thorpe Area High School, 1 Olympian Way.

A shuttle service, running at every half-hour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., between the high school and the county courthouse annex will be provided.

These shuttles will also stop at Ninth and North streets and Sixth and North streets. Signs for buses will be posted. Three shuttle buses for participants will also be provided from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Motorists are advised that parking along Route 209 will not be permitted. Vehicles parked along Route 209 on the Mansion House Hill in Mahoning Township will be towed.

Additionally, the members of the AOH remind spectators to respect the parade and its participants by not interfering with the parade or any private parties along the parade route.

“We have lost some participants in the past due to rude and improper behavior from spectators,” said Hugh Dugan, chairman of the AOH’s parade committee.

“The quickest way to ruin this great parade is by spectators giving it a bad reputation. We ask that people respect all participants and that everyone join in by policing the area around you for bad behavior.”

The lineup for this year’s parade is as follows:

First division

Jim Thorpe Police Department cruiser and Mayor Michael Sofranko; co-grand marshals Noel and Bernadette Behan; aides to the Grand Marshal Patrick Crowley, Joseph Kennedy, Marcia Evans and Kathy Crampsie; Mackay Pipe Band, Banner of St. Patrick, AOH Carbon County, LAOH Carbon County, Josh Jacobs Truck, California Raisins VW Beetle, Jim Thorpe Area High School Band, The Jim Thorpers, state Sen. John Yudichak, state Rep. Doyle Heffley, Commissioner and Mrs. Tom Gerhard, District Attorney Jean Engler, Carbon County Director of Veterans Affairs Henry Desrosiers, Sheriff Anthony Harvilla, Jim Thorpe Borough Council, Crufeli Sideshow and Circus Entertainment, Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Hawk Mountain Highlanders, AOH, Jack Kehoe Division, Girardville, and Kresge Electric.

Second division

Jim Thorpe Fire Department, Celtic United Pipe and Drums, Shriners Hospital for Children float, Carbon County Shrine Club float, Forks of the Delaware Tin Lizzies, Carbon County Fair, Rachel Knoblauch, Emmaus Sentinels Alumni Drum and Bugle, Panther Valley Irish-American Association, Irish Wolfhounds, Keystone Medical Equipment, Kerry Dancers, Diamond Fire Company, Walnutport, 81st PA Co K Civil War Re-Enactors, United States Submarine Veterans, Carbon County Central Labor Council, Nesquehoning Ambulance, Nesquehoning Hose Company, New Columbus Fire Company, Brian Boru Pip and Drums, Delaware County AOH, Black Jack Kehoe, Jim Thorpe Side Car Tours, Mauch Chunk Museum/Switchback Gravity Railroad, Damien Council No. 598, Knights of Columbus, Kiltie Band of York, Pocono Whitewater and Emerald Isle Step Dancers.

Third division

Lochiel Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, Mahanoy City Borough and Historical Society, Carbon County Friends of Animals, McDonald’s, Leiby’s Carriage Service and Yuengling Beer Wagon, Ace Fusion Championship Wrestling, Skyliners Performance Ensemble, U.S. Air Force Recruiting, Hazleton, Sgt. Dupree, Bowmanstown Volunteer Fire Company, A.R. Ruhmel Trucking, Emerald Star Fire Company, Slatington, Greater Scranton Black Diamonds, Mauch Chunk Rod and Gun Club, Mahoning Valley Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Blue Eagles Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps, Pine Ridge Services, Reckless Rydaz AC, Brodheadsville Chevrolet and Lehighton KIA.