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PITTSTON — Organizers were never dreaming of a white St. Patrick’s Day, but a slight upturn in temperatures and a concerted effort to remove much of the snow from Main Street has given the city’s parade a green light.
Councilman Mike Lombardo said the parade, which steps off at noon Saturday, is a significant event in the renaissance of the downtown. Murals of coal miners and Mona Lisa adorn the walls of buildings and the traditional green line has been painted in the middle of Main Street, along with shamrocks.
“It’s more about the bricks and mortar and how the city looks,” Lombardo said. “It’s about bringing people downtown and the parade does that.”
Lombardo said the parade, which returned in 2014 after not being held for decades, is as important as the Tomato Festival and the popular Art Walks.
“Weather is always a concern,” Lombardo said. “But March is a transitional month. The forecast said the temperatures will be in the high 30s.”
Antonio Costagliola has owned Napoli’s Pizza since 1998 and he said business booms on parade day.
“Last year, we had so many people,” he said. “You know, Patrick, he was Italian. But seriously, we get a lot of new customers on parade day and they have come back many times.”
Costagliola said the parade is good for downtown businesses. He said Main Street has seen a lot of new businesses in recent years and the parade gives it a lot of new energy.
“People see us here and they come in and eat,” he said. “We get a lot of new customers.”
Just up Main Street is Harry Jackett’s Lunch. Co-owners Kris and Jessica Zelonis have been open for four years and they love parade day.
“We open at 6 a.m. and we offer green eggs and ham,” Jessica said. “We have a steady flow of customers all morning until the parade starts.”
Harry Salavantis and his family have owned Majestic Lunch since 1954. The business first opened in 1914 and still serves the same recipes of the original owners.
“The parade is a great event,” Salavantis said. “It was well-received last year. We are all looking forward to it being an annual event each year because it showcases the businesses here.”
Salavantis said people come to the parade from out of town and see how Pittston is coming back.
“We’ve been on Main Street since 1954,” Salavantis said. “We have been there when Pittston was in its heyday and when it struggled. And now it’s coming back and the parade is a great way to showcase the city.”
Saturday’s parade will start at the fork on South Main Street and then head all the way up Main Street, coming back down Kennedy Boulevard and ending near Quinn’s Market.
More than 140 groups, including numerous pipe and drum units, marching bands, public officials, the Scranton St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and dozens of local businesses, will participate.
Making an appearance for the first time will be the Oscar Meyer “Weinermobile.”
The city’s two bridges will be closed to traffic just before parade start time, around 11:30 a.m., as will the parade route. The lineup area in South Pittston will be closed around 10 a.m.