Holyoke Massachusetts Hosts Second Largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in Nation

Holyoke, Massachusetts- birthplace of my Irish grandmother- is the venue for the second largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the nation. With its colleen court in waiting, its Grand Marshal bearing his staff, the Parade Committee has announced the date for Holyoke's 56^th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. The parade will march on Sunday, March 18, 2007 beginning at 11:30 a.m. and continuing until 3:30 p.m.

History of the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade
Holyoke, Massachusetts is an old mill town whose many immigrants toiled at paper making and woolen weaving. The Irish influx to Holyoke began with the potato famine in 1840s Ireland. As the Irish arrived in America, many flocked to Holyoke in search of mill jobs. They were not alone, however; French Canadians, Poles, and Puerto Ricans also immigrated to Holyoke in large numbers.

Although Holyoke's St. Patrick's Day Parade is second largest in the nation, it got a rather late start. The first St. Patrick's Day Parade in Holyoke occurred in 1952; whereas New York City, the venue for the largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the United States, organized its first St. Patrick's Day parade in 1762. The Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade now draws spectators from all of Western New England.

40,000 Marchers Anticipated
The Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade line-up for 2007 is not official yet, but the parade organizers expect some 40,000 marchers, and at least 30 floats, 40 bands and 1 million parade-loving spectators (live and televised combined). Last year, the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day parade set its record for float participation with 52 floats. The marchers last year represented fourteen states and several foreign countries.