The leadership may be different, but spectators can expect the same festive atmosphere when the St. Patrick's Day parade steps off Saturday in Girardville.
The 11th annual parade will begin at noon. Participants can register until 11:30 a.m. at Borough Hall. A Mass will precede the parade at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 211 W. Main St.
This year's parade is dedicated to Girardville schools from past and present. The parade's commemorative booklet and program will feature the history of the schools in the region.
According to Stephen Barrett, parade manager, the three local school districts - North Schuylkill, Mahanoy Area and Shenandoah Valley - will be represented in various capacities, including students, floats and bands. The superintendents of the three school districts will serve as grand marshals.
Barrett said the schools were chosen as the theme in hopes of getting representation back, especially from the bands, after it faded a few years ago.
"That's the reason we dedicated it to the school was to get the bands to the parade," he said.
Barrett is serving as parade manager, a new role created by the Girardville Parade Committee. The committee took over responsibilities after the parade's founder, John "Mouche" McNelis, stepped down after 10 years.
In those 10 years, the parade has grown into one of the largest St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the region. According to a press release from Barrett and parade Chairman Joseph Wayne, this year's parade will have more than 200 entries.
The size of the parade can create trouble for the organizers, something Barrett is aware of.
"The one thing we learned in the last 10 years is you have to be prepared," he said.
To address security issues, the committee has enlisted a new group to serve as eyes and ears along the route.
"This year, we will use ham (radio) operators to keep control," Barrett said, adding parade marshals will be working with the operators to keep the parade together. In previous years, large gaps would form and cars would turn onto the route thinking the parade was over.
Security has been a focus for Barrett as the parade has gained a reputation for its party atmosphere. He fears a negative public image may deter families from attending the day's festivities.
"We don't want to lose our parade because of people carrying on and being disrespectful," he said.
In addition to the schools' participants and floats, the parade will be made up of string bands and musical bands, marchers from local civic groups and pipe and drums bands from across the region and Philadelphia area.
Another new addition to this year's parade is a website, www.girardvilleirishparade.com. Barrett said the website contains all information needed for spectators and entries, including parade day road maps, registration and history.
He said it is another tool to help people navigate in Girardville during the parade, which has been known to triple the borough's population. He said not only do people from around the region attend, but people come home to celebrate the holiday with family and friends.
"The Girardville parade is not only a St. Patrick's Day parade, it's a homecoming in Girardville," he said.
To help with the increasing cost of the pipe bands, the committee will be selling a new parade T-shirt and pin during the parade. The merchandise can also be found on the website.
An awards ceremony will be held an hour after the parade at the Jack Kehoe Hibernian House. Thirty-five awards will be presented in categories including: high school bands, pipe bands, best appearing float, best appearing fire company and best overall.
The committee also reminds people that roads into Girardville will be closed to traffic at 10 a.m.
Barrett said the goal of the new committee is to uphold the parade's tradition and to host a safe event.
"We just want to keep the parade alive. There is a lot of history in Girardville," he said.
For more information, visit the parade's website.