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Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade draws big crowds with the good weather
HOLYOKE – Fans wearing green hats and shirts, shamrock beads and green-tinted sunglasses turned the city into a sea of green, Sunday, for the 61st St. Patrick's Parade.
Unusually warm temperatures had marchers peeling off their Irish knit sweaters and delighting in the 70-degree day that made the 2012 version one of the biggest success in the long history of the parade.
“I don't know what I did to make it happen. We have had nice days in the past, but nothing like this,” said Russell McNiff Jr., this year's parade president.
Saying he feels blessed, McNiff talked about past parades where the Department of Public Works removed shoulder-high snowbanks from the route and people wrapped in blankets and shivered through the event.
He thanked the about 200 volunteers on the parade committee who have been working since last April to prepare for the event.
Barry Farrell Jr., this year's parade marshal, has officially marched in two other parades and unofficially as a band monitor in dozens.
“It was fantastic. I've marched in the parade for many, many years and I've never seen so many people,” he said.
He said he was impressed with the State Police Marching unit, which won the citizenship award this year for all the work troopers do for the city.
No crowd estimates were available, but organizers and police agreed the good weather brought out one of biggest crowds in recent history. People lined the route from the start at K-Mart plaza on Route 5 to the end on Main Street.
Larry Stock, of Connecticut, who has been selling horns, shamrock hats and green feather boas at the parade for 40 years, said parade-goers quickly bought up his souvenirs Sunday as he walked down Appleton Street.
“It is always big and it always depends on the weather,” Stock said of the parade.
Chicopee residents Pauline Belanger and Brenda Lauren sported bright green wigs in honor of the parade.
This was Lauren's first time watching the parade up close. The duo found seats right in front of the Kmart Plaza where the parade began.
Unusually warm temperatures had marchers peeling off their Irish knit sweaters and delighting in the 70-degree day that made the 2012 version one of the biggest success in the long history of the parade.
“I don't know what I did to make it happen. We have had nice days in the past, but nothing like this,” said Russell McNiff Jr., this year's parade president.
Saying he feels blessed, McNiff talked about past parades where the Department of Public Works removed shoulder-high snowbanks from the route and people wrapped in blankets and shivered through the event.
He thanked the about 200 volunteers on the parade committee who have been working since last April to prepare for the event.
Barry Farrell Jr., this year's parade marshal, has officially marched in two other parades and unofficially as a band monitor in dozens.
“It was fantastic. I've marched in the parade for many, many years and I've never seen so many people,” he said.
He said he was impressed with the State Police Marching unit, which won the citizenship award this year for all the work troopers do for the city.
No crowd estimates were available, but organizers and police agreed the good weather brought out one of biggest crowds in recent history. People lined the route from the start at K-Mart plaza on Route 5 to the end on Main Street.
Larry Stock, of Connecticut, who has been selling horns, shamrock hats and green feather boas at the parade for 40 years, said parade-goers quickly bought up his souvenirs Sunday as he walked down Appleton Street.
“It is always big and it always depends on the weather,” Stock said of the parade.
Chicopee residents Pauline Belanger and Brenda Lauren sported bright green wigs in honor of the parade.
This was Lauren's first time watching the parade up close. The duo found seats right in front of the Kmart Plaza where the parade began.
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