Pocono News Section

Scranton Parade Ready - Rain or Shine

Scranton Parade Ready - Rain or Shine - Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 04:49AM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Saturday March 13 2010
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - One of the biggest Saint Patrick's parades in the country steps-off Saturday in the Electric City. The 49th annual Scranton Saint Patrick's day parade will be held -- even though rain is in the forecast. It wouldn't be a Saint Patrick's parade without traditional Irish dancing. And these students from Crossmolina School of Dance in Scranton are prepared to dance up a storm Saturday even if it's raining. The parade committee gave the green light to hold the parade -- rain or shine -- because so much is at stake. "There's such an economic impact. Families are coming in from out of town," said parade president Tom Hallinan. And they'll see Irish Step Dancers like 18-year-old Shannon Joyce of Avoca -- who's like a big sister to many of the younger Crossmolina dancers. "I try to help them learn their steps and make sure they have their gillies - their soft shoes - that's what gillies are. Their hard shoes and make sure they're all prepared for the dances," she said. When asked if she's ready to go, she replied, "Oh, yeah. I'm pumped. I'm ready." So, is the dance group's director Maureen King. "When we walk by the crowds and they're screaming dance dance dance, the kids get excited. I get excited. It's wonderful," she said. The Crossmolina Irish Step Dancers are one of about a half-dozen step dancing groups that'll be part of the Saint Patrick's Parade in Scranton. And this year, a record number of pipe bands will perform. Jim Sweeney and other members of the Greater Scranton Black Diamonds Pipe Band are among 12 pipe bands ready to play. "We have people coming in from all over the country. In fact, one of our pipers is actually driving in from Florida just to play with us," said Sweeney. All kinds of music -- from bagpipers to marching bands -- keep the crowd entertained and in place. "We want the kids along the route to stay for every minute of the parade and that's why we really push music," said parade director Jaime Hailstone. But it may take some luck of the Irish to draw the typically huge crowd and spare them a driving rain.