Holyoke, Massachusetts claims to have the second or third largest St. Patrick's Parade in the U.S. I can't vouch for that claim, but I do know that the parade generally lasts for about three hours and that people begin "reserving" their spots along the line of march a couple of hours before the parade begins.

Having fought the crowds and the traffic many times before, this year I decided to get my photos at the staging area. While they don't have the immediacy of actual parade photos, I think that they offer a representation of the various groups involved and demonstrate that on that one day everyone in Holyoke is Irish. The weather may have been gray and chilly, but the enthusiasm of the participants is undeniably obvious.

I hope you enjoy your visit here.