Scranton Pa Offers A Lively St Patricks Day Celebration

By Author: William Hauselberg
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If you are looking for an exciting place to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, you might want to consider visiting Scranton, PA. The celebration is becoming a regional phenomenon, and the party grows each year. There are activities people of all ages, from kids to the young at heart. If you are traveling to attend the festivities, there are plenty of Scranton, PA hotels where you can stay, relax and make a weekend of your trip.

Brian Kelly Memorial Race

The day begins with the Parade Day Mass at St. Peter's Cathedral. This is followed by the Brian Kelly Memorial Race. Next comes the parade which boasts more than 12,000 participants. The day continues with a variety of other activities. And of course, the bars and restaurants are open early that day; to help keep the true spirit of an Irish St. Patrick's Day party alive.

You do not need to be a member of the Catholic church to enjoy the parade kick-off mass at St. Peter's Cathedral. This is a special mass that has something to offer any religious faith. It will also inspire you to either join in or watch the Brian Kelly Memorial Race, the oldest road race in Scranton. ...
... The race covers a two mile course which is relatively flat (although there are some gently rolling hills). If you want to watch from the starting point of the race you can go to the Scranton Cultural Center on Washington Avenue. St. Peter's Cathedral marks the first mile. The finish is where the runners started - at the cultural center.

St Patrick's Day Parade

If you enjoy a good parade you will find one at Scranton. You will see and hear everything from bagpipes to high school and string bands. There are also many floats along with huge balloons. The Irish, of course, cannot be left out. They will be seen in a number of Irish groups and societies participating in the parade.

The parade has been an annual event since 1962. It is organized by the St. Patrick's Parade Association of Lackawanna County. It has received national attention as being one of the best parades held on this special day. Visitors begin lining up on Wyoming Avenue, in front of the cathedral. It winds down Lackawanna Avenue over to Jefferson Avenue. It then heads down Spruce Street to get to Washington Avenue. This is where it passes the William J. Nealon Federal Building and then the reviewing stand. Once the parade concludes people can wander around for a day and night full of varied activities.

A Party for the Grown Ups

For those old enough to partake in adult beverages, Scranton's St Patrick's Day party is a must-attend. The bars and restaurants open as early as 5:00 am for people to begin their celebrations as early as possible. There are numbers bar and pub crawls throughout the day, and people come from the surrounding cities and towns to join the party. Many people from New York prefer to travel to Scranton for their St. Patrick's Day festivities.

If you come to take advantage of the bars, make sure to make a reservation at a local hotel. There are many Scranton, PA accommodations where you can relax and recover from your St. Patrick's Day party.

Scranton, PA accommodations are always luxurious and affordable. When planning a vacation package, accommodation can be made simple with Scranton, PA hotels.