Holyoke hosts 61st St. Patrick's parade

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - It's second largest parade of its kind in the nation. Hundreds of thousands of spectators took in the 61st annual Holyoke Saint Patrick's Parade.

It's one of Western Massachusetts most beloved traditions. Damaris Cruz of Holyoke told 22News, "Family, it's in our family. What we do every year, I was raised on it, it's now his turn."

Sunday morning's cloudy skies gave way to brilliant sunshine as the 61st Holyoke Saint Patrick's parade kicked off.

Amy Kellehere of Westfield has been a parade regular since before she was old enough to remember. "Tradition and family; we all get together two times a year, Christmas and St. Patrick's Day."

Every inch of the two and a half mile parade route was packed with people.... hundreds of thousands of spectators taking in the famous floats, the Colleens, the music and of course, some familiar faces that are working for you all year round, the 22News team of both on-air and behind the scenes personalities.

Angeanette Hennessy told 22News the parade organizers and the participants had outdone themselves. "This is the first time we had the opportunity to to come in person and see for ourselves."

Holyoke's parade gets bigger every year, attracting both first-timers and those who've made it a lifelong tradition. "I've been coming here since I was a little boy," said Jason Fortin of Chicopee. "I like to bring the younger children with me."

This year was the first time for the Hennessey family of Springfield. According to Angeanette Hennessey, "This is the first time we had the opportunity to come in person and see for ourselves."

In 2011 the parade broke its own record for attendance with over 400 thousand people.... and this year, parade organizers think they may have broken it again with close to half a million.

Everyone 22News spoke with echoed the familiar sentiments that the parade means so much to the people of western Massachusetts. "It's like a tradition, just came down here to have a great time," said Stephen McCarthy of Springfield.

In years past paradegoers have braved chilly winds and even snow, but this year's sunny skies and almost summery temperatures made the winter blues disappear replaced by a vibrant shade of festive Irish green.