On March 8, 2025, Glenside held its St. Patrick’s Day
parade. While it was a big day since it was Glenside’s first St. Patrick’s Day
parade, it was also my first time going to a St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Before I left, I checked the weather to dress accordingly. I
wore a long-sleeve “Irish” t-shirt, leggings, a winter jacket, and sneakers. I
also accessorized with a shamrock scarf and a St. Patrick’s Day headband that
had a green top hat on it.
Since I live a bit outside of Glenside, I decided to take
the train in, which I do whenever I go to Glenside (concerts at the Keswick,
anyone?). It was actually advised that anyone who does not live in Glenside
take the train in because of limited parking with the parade and festival road
closures.
I got off the train and followed the crowd, not even knowing
if they were going to the parade. Luckily, they were, but I pulled up Google
maps on my phone just in case. It was about a 10-minute walk, but it felt
longer. I typically do not walk from the train station to the Keswick when I go
to concerts, but I walked that distance by the end of the event.
I found a place to stand and watch the parade. I got there
pretty early and did not have anything to do while I waited. However, more and
more people lined up to watch and some attendees across the street were playing
Celtic music on a speaker, which was lovely. I heard the parade started a bit
late, but it did not take long for it to get to where I was, which was
relatively close to where the festival was.
The parade had a wide variety of participants, from first
responders and Girl Scouts to local Celtic organizations and sports clubs.
There was even a human-sized pint of Guinness walking around and taking
pictures with attendees.
While there was a bagpipe band, a band on a float, a Mummers
band, and music with the dancers, there was not a lot of music. Music is a huge
part of Irish culture (the harp is the national symbol of Ireland), so it would
have been nice to have more music, whether it means more bagpipes (I would love
that!), a marching band, or bands performing as a part of the festival having a
float.
There were cars parked in the street, which made it
difficult to see the parade and limited space for those wanting to watch. It
would be helpful if the parade route was clear of parked cars so those watching
the parade had more room. I felt like people were crowded around me and we had
to maneuver around the cars to see.
The event also featured a festival. After the parade ended,
the crowd followed the back of the parade to the location of the festival right
up the street. There were three stages with bands throughout the event, each
with different musicians. I was mostly at the main stage as I wanted to see the
Irish dancers and the bagpipes. However, I also got to see the Natterjacks, who
were a lot of fun to watch!
I do wish there were more vendors, especially food and
Celtic-related vendors. I did not see that many that appealed to me, which was
a bit disheartening. It would also have been nice if the vendors were more
visible as the ones I did see were hidden behind people. I decided to get food
when I got home.
After the festival, I wanted to try to get a Lyft back to
the train station, but the cell signal was not working. I did hear other people
saying they were having trouble sending and receiving texts. It was not too bad
of a walk, but I was just not used to it.
Personally, for next year, I want to take my portable stool
to use during the parade. I did not get to sit from the time I got to the
parade until I got back on the train. While I was okay, it was a long day and I
was sore for a few days from all the walking. I will also bring a water bottle
and a snack so I can at least be hydrated and have some food to hold me over. I
did eat before I left the house, which I was thankful for.
Overall, Glenside’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival
was a fun day. I loved seeing all of the decorations for the decorating
contest. It was awesome to see the whole community come together to put on
something so special. The atmosphere was a lot of fun, with people talking to
each other while waiting, throwing a football around, and just collectively
doing something fun. While there may be things that can be added or adjusted,
the event was successful and a lot of fun. It was the first, and I hope that
this is a tradition that will last for generations to come. It was an honor to
be there for the inaugural event.
