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<p>PITTSTON &#8212; The St. Patrick&#8217;s Parade season opened Saturday with Pittston&#8217;s streets lined not only with carefully painted green stripes, but with scores of residents who have made the annual march a tradition.</p><p>Members of the Burns family gathered on their porch, enthusiastically greeting neighbors as they prepared for the parade.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s something that we do every year,&#8221; said Linda Burns, referring to herself and her husband. &#8220;It&#8217;s a party, a kid-friendly party.&#8221;</p><p>Burns said the family has opened its home to family and friends throughout the parade&#8217;s six-year history.</p><p>&#8220;Afterwards, some of us go downtown and continue celebrating,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Pittston special events coordinator Sarah Donahue was grateful that this year&#8217;s weather provided the perfect backdrop, especially after a snowstorm last year meant numerous challenges in making the parade a reality.</p><p>More than 100 entries made their way down Main Street to the delight of thousands of paradegoers, cheering as bands, businesses, bagpipers and even the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile&#8203; went by, many of them decked out in green and glitter and generating excitement.</p><p>This year&#8217;s new addition, a large shamrock balloon likened to those used in much larger parades, was a special accomplishment for Donahue.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re really excited about it,&#8221; she said as she looked down the street at the gigantic balloon towering above the street.</p><p>State Rep. Mike Carroll was enjoying the fun atmosphere as well.</p><p>&#8220;After a long winter, it&#8217;s a wonderful day to celebrate St. Patrick&#8217;s Day in Greater Pittston,&#8221; the lawmaker noted.</p><p>Greater Pittston, he said, extends for miles in each direction on the day of the St. Patrick&#8217;s Parade.</p><p>Eric Filipiak, of Shavertown, intended to celebrate the day at city eateries and taverns. He prepared for the parade by purchasing a deep green suit and tie, covered with shamrocks.</p><p>As Filipiak and his friends headed for downtown, their excitement was palpable.</p><p>&#8220;This is the definition of St. Patrick&#8217;s Day,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Little Miss Leprechaun, Lexi McCabe, was also sporting multiple shamrocks on a deep tulle dress, chosen for her by her mother after Lexi was crowned just last Sunday.</p><p>Lexi&#8217;s mother, Linzi, said the 4-year-old did feel very fortunate.</p><p>&#8220;She said to me, &#8216;Mommy, I&#8217;m so lucky I have red hair and blue eyes. They&#8217;re both my favorite colors.&#8217;&#8221;</p><p>The Times Leader Media Group was the official print-media sponsor of Saturday&#8217;s parade.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Kerry Miscavage, vice president of sales and marketing for the Times Leader, and TL publisher Mike Murray are seen marching in Saturday&#8217;s St. Patrick&#8217;s parade in downtown Pittston. Behind them is the newspaper&#8217;s mascot, TL News Bear, and other Times Leader staff. The Times Leader Media Group was the official print-media sponsor for the event. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TL-Kerry-1-3.jpg</photo0><caption0>Kerry Miscavage, vice president of sales and marketing for the Times Leader, and TL publisher Mike Murray are seen marching in Saturday&#8217;s St. Patrick&#8217;s parade in downtown Pittston. Behind them is the newspaper&#8217;s mascot, TL News Bear, and other Times Leader staff. The Times Leader Media Group was the official print-media sponsor for the event. </caption0><photoCredit0>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-1-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick are seen marching with their banner during Saturday&#8217;s St. Patrick&#8217;s parade in downtown Pittston. The weather cooperated this year, unlike last year when a snowstorm the day before threatened to postpone the festivities. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-1-3.jpg</photo1><caption1>The Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick are seen marching with their banner during Saturday&#8217;s St. Patrick&#8217;s parade in downtown Pittston. The weather cooperated this year, unlike last year when a snowstorm the day before threatened to postpone the festivities. </caption1><photoCredit1>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-2-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Caitlyn Hess, 12, from the Broadway on the Boulevard dancing troupe, danced her way down Main Street in Pittston during Saturday&#8217;s parade. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-2-3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Caitlyn Hess, 12, from the Broadway on the Boulevard dancing troupe, danced her way down Main Street in Pittston during Saturday&#8217;s parade. </caption2><photoCredit2>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-3-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">P.J. Melvin looked dapper as the 2019 Grand Marshal of the St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade in Pittston. Melvin has been a staple of the Greater Pittston area his whole life. He held several positions in the Wyoming Area School District and is a former Pittston city councilman. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-3-3.jpg</photo3><caption3>P.J. Melvin looked dapper as the 2019 Grand Marshal of the St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade in Pittston. Melvin has been a staple of the Greater Pittston area his whole life. He held several positions in the Wyoming Area School District and is a former Pittston city councilman. </caption3><photoCredit3>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-4-1-1-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis passed out candy to the throngs lining Main Street in Pittston for the St. Patrick&#8217;s Day parade Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-4-1-1-3.jpg</photo4><caption4>Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis passed out candy to the throngs lining Main Street in Pittston for the St. Patrick&#8217;s Day parade Saturday. </caption4><photoCredit4>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-7-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A float by Larry O&#8217;Malia&#8217;s Farm &amp; Greenhouse is seen from the Reilly Associates office in downtown Pittston during Saturday&#8217;s St. Patrick&#8217;s Day parade. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-7-3.jpg</photo5><caption5>A float by Larry O&#8217;Malia&#8217;s Farm &amp; Greenhouse is seen from the Reilly Associates office in downtown Pittston during Saturday&#8217;s St. Patrick&#8217;s Day parade. </caption5><photoCredit5>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-9-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile made a second appearance in as many years at the sixth annual Pittston St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-9-3.jpg</photo6><caption6>The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile made a second appearance in as many years at the sixth annual Pittston St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade. </caption6><photoCredit6>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-8-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Karen Renfer, Pittston Fidelity Bank employee, races to the Fidelity Bank van to get another bag of candy to pass out to the thousands of spectators that lined Saturday&#8217;s parade route. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-8-3.jpg</photo7><caption7>Karen Renfer, Pittston Fidelity Bank employee, races to the Fidelity Bank van to get another bag of candy to pass out to the thousands of spectators that lined Saturday&#8217;s parade route. </caption7><photoCredit7>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit7></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-6-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Raymond Cannell, of Exeter, leads the Wyoming Valley Pipe &amp; Drum Band down Main Street in Pittston on Saturday during the sixth annual St. Patrick&#8217;s Day parade. There was only a dusting of snow in the hours before the parade, or as organizers said on their Facebook page: &#8216;Surely not enought to scare off any leprechauns!&#8217; </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo8>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-6-3.jpg</photo8><caption8>Raymond Cannell, of Exeter, leads the Wyoming Valley Pipe &amp; Drum Band down Main Street in Pittston on Saturday during the sixth annual St. Patrick&#8217;s Day parade. There was only a dusting of snow in the hours before the parade, or as organizers said on their Facebook page: &#8216;Surely not enought to scare off any leprechauns!&#8217; </caption8><photoCredit8>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit8></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-5-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">One of the new features for this year&#8217;s St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade in Pittston was a huge shamrock balloon that was carried along the route. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo9>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_2109-St.-Patrick-s-Day-Parade-5-3.jpg</photo9><caption9>One of the new features for this year&#8217;s St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade in Pittston was a huge shamrock balloon that was carried along the route. </caption9><photoCredit9>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit9></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Thousands celebrate St. Patrick&#8217;s in city&#8217;s sixth annual parade</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>For more scenes</strong></p><p><strong>from parade, 7A</strong></p></factboxMeta></div>

Pittston goes all Irish for St. Patrick’s Day parade