Chantel Rodriguez

Staff Writer

Cvr5570@psu.edu

Rain or shine, State Street was a sea of green as the St. Patrick’s Day parade came back after a 2-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Organized by the Erie Downtown Partnership and the Knights and Ladies of St. Patrick, they wanted to make this year’s parade more memorable than the last as most people thought it would not be possible. 

“It’s really not just good for us to just have a parade, but it’s really good for Erie, and I think it’s really important for the first community family event to kick-off,” said Mike Malthaner the President of the Knights and Ladies of St. Patrick.

Malthaner describes having to reschedule festivities due to heavy snowfall. Many of the performers were weary in performing in the cold, especially the groups with children. But that didn’t stop the excitement surrounding this year’s St. Patrick’s Parade for families.

“They said can’t we still do it?’ and I said no, it was an agreement with the city, there’s a lot of variables that go on with putting on an event such as this, and we have to make sure State Street is open, the side streets are closed, it’s got to be a safe environment for everybody, so it was a good call last week”, explained Malthaner.

Malthaner said after a few years of preparation, there’s nothing more comforting than witnessing the St. Patrick’s Day parade finally take place in the Erie community with over thirty groups involved. 

“It’s so much fun to walk down the street and throw candy to the kids and just to see the happy faces and people just being outside and out in the environment and out with other people once again. It’s been two years”, said Malthaner.

“I think a lot of the Irish cultural groups and stuff are excited since this was the first event canceled back in 2020, to come back. It’s just a sign of things returning to normal, so I think everybody’s really excited,” said David Tamulonis of Erie Downtown Partnership.

St. Patrick’s Day was Thursday, but the festivities resumed Saturday in downtown Erie, starting with the St. Patrick’s Day parade in full force and smiles. The crowds continued the celebrations into the bars like Molly Brannigan’s Irish Pub and the Tap House. 

Owner Greg Brown of Molly Brannigan’s Irish Pub has been organizing for months and is excited to see the turnout from the community. 

“With the supply chain the way it is right now, we’re very happy to have been planning with our partners and plan to make sure we have products and supplies to make sure we’re having a great time,” said Brown.

U Pick 6 Tap House owner, John Melody, wanted the Erie community to enjoy themselves and show off their Irish spirit by keeping its customers entertained with live band performances and a packed house.  

“We weren’t totally sure what today would bring.” Melody says, “If people would just be done after two tough days after last Saturday and Thursday. Again, it just shows that true Irish spirit and the spirit of the community that they’re coming out for the parade and support today. It’s fantastic.”

The Erie community did not disappoint. It was a change of scenery seeing Erie Downtown with the children smiling and sidewalks filled with excited faces after two years of lockdown.