St. Patrick's Parade festivities beginning in Holyoke

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - Irish eyes were smiling in Holyoke on Wednesday morning, as the Irish Flag was raised at City Hall to begin the festivities for the 62nd annual St. Patrick’s Parade .

Grand Colleen Brianna Gresh and members of her court helped raise the flag and paint the shamrock at the intersection of High and Dwight Streets. The shamrock is one of many painted onto the streets of Holyoke in advance of the parade, which is one of the nation’s oldest and largest.

This year’s St. Patrick’s Parade, which actually falls on St. Patrick’s Day itself, steps off from the Kmart plaza on Northampton Street at 11:30 Sunday morning. The annual St. Patrick’s Road Race , which is in its 38th year, will be held on Saturday, starting at 11:00 A.M.