SCRANTON, Pa. — The Scranton St. Patrick's Parade is supposed to step off Saturday at 11:45 a.m., but the predicted storm could put a kink in those plans.
The St. Patrick's Parade in Scranton is a huge event in downtown, and the Irish and those who are only Irish for the day were looking forward to the parade's big return.
There hasn't been a traditional parade held in March since 2019.
They are hoping to welcome revelers back since the annual parade was canceled in 2020 and postponed in 2021 because of the pandemic.
Parade organizers are hoping for the best, delaying their final decision on whether to postpone the parade until Friday.
We're talking a lot about winter weather expected this weekend, but it was a beautiful spring-like day in downtown on Thursday, so parade traditions carried on as usual.
The sun shone on the streets of Scranton as DPW worker Gene Reed did this week as he's done for decades – painting a green line along the St. Patrick's Parade route.
Bars and restaurants in the city readied for Saturday's crowds as beer deliveries were made and decorations hung.
"I think the excitement alone, I think people are really just itching to do something. Get out, have fun, mingle again. This is a great kickoff to it," said Bob Trotta at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center.
But Mother Nature may throw a wrench into the St. Patrick's plans. A forecasted storm could bring rain, snow, and high winds to northeastern and central Pennsylvania on Saturday.
"Obviously, the weather notwithstanding, we're as ready as we're going to be. We've done it before, we did it for 10 years before everything went sideways with COVID," said Bill Nasser, co-owner of Backyard Ale House on Linden Street.
Nasser says downtown businesses are looking forward to the boost in business from the parade that was canceled in 2020 and postponed in 2021 because of the pandemic.
If weather forces a postponement this year, business owners say they'll pivot –something they've become very used to.
"The wheels are always turning," Nasser said. "There's always the what-ifs that occur. You just got to prepare for the what-ifs. We talked about it, we discussed it amongst each other. If it's got to be postponed, it's got to be postponed."
"That's usually the most challenging thing, booking music out for a rescheduled day. As far as beer, and staff, and all the other, the dumpsters, the port-a-potties, that stuff's pretty easy to procure. Entertainment is when we get the hard spots."
The parade committee is hoping that forecast changes. They're meeting Friday afternoon to decide whether or not to postpone.
As of right now, the parade is scheduled to step off at 11:45 a.m. Saturday on Wyoming Avenue.
Check out WNEP’s YouTube page.