Carbon County’s tribute to Irish ancestry and heritage will take place on Sunday,when the 19th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and related activities will be held.

Highlighting the weekend will be the three-division march down Broadway in Jim Thorpe, when Francis “Snitz” O’Donnell of Jim Thorpe will be recognized as the grand marshal of the parade that is likely to attract thousands of visitors, as it has since 1998.The parade will begin at 1 p.m. in upper Jim Thorpe (West Broadway), and will proceed to the courthouse complex area of town. It is once again being sponsored by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee of Jim Thorpe and Carbon County Inc., a spinoff of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Alec Campbell Division 1, Carbon County, and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Mollie Maguire Division 1, Carbon County.The traditional Mass in honor of St. Patrick will be held at 4:30 this afternoon in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on West Broadway in Jim Thorpe. The Mass also serves as a blessing to the grand marshal, aides, past and present officers for the AOH and the LAOH and those officers and members of the organizations who have passed away.In preparation for the parade, Broadway will be closed to all traffic at 11:45 a.m. Sunday.Since no parking will be available in the downtown area, parking will be provided at the Carbon County parking lot, with additional parking at Jim Thorpe Area High School, 1 Olympian Way, and Carbon Career & Technical Institute, West 13th Street. A shuttle service, running at every half-hour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. between the high school, CCTI and the county courthouse annex, will be provided.These shuttles will also stop at Ninth and North streets and Sixth and North streets. Signs for buses will be posted. Three shuttle buses for participants will also be provided from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Motorists are advised that parking along Route 209 will not be permitted. Vehicles parked along Route 209 on the Mansion House Hill in Mahoning Township will be towed.Additionally, the members of the AOH remind spectators to respect the parade and its participants by not interfering with the parade or any private parties along the parade route.“We have lost some participants in the past due to rude and improper behavior from spectators,” said Hugh Dugan, chairman of the AOH’s parade committee. “The quickest way to ruin this great parade is by spectators giving it a bad reputation. We ask that people respect all participants and that everyone join in by policing the area around you for bad behavior.”The lineup for this year’s parade is as follows:First DivisionJim Thorpe Police Department Cruiser and Mayor Michael Sofranko; Carbon County Commissioner Tom Gerhard; Grand Marshal Francis “Snitz” O’Donnell; Aides to the Grand Marshal; Broome County Celtic Pipes and Drums; Banner of St. Patrick; Ancient Order of Hibernians, Carbon County Chapter; Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Carbon County Chapter; Chuck Thamarus Truck; California Raisins VW Beetle; Jim Thorpe Area High School Band; Congressman Matthew Cartwright; State Sen. John Yudichak; State Rep. Doyle Heffley; District Attorney Jean Engler; Carbon County Prothonotary Joann Behrens; Carbon County Sheriff Anthony Harvilla; Jim Thorpe Borough Council; Emmaus Sentinels; Shawn Kresge Electric; U.S. Postal truck; Schuylkill-Carbon Marine Corps League Detachment 626; Hawk Mountain Highlanders; Black Jack Kehoe Division 4, Delaware County; and Eclectic Circus.Second DivisionJim Thorpe Fire Department, Kailtie Band of York; Knights of Columbus, Damien Council No. 598; The Herlihy Family; Irish Wolfhounds; Metro PCS; All Faiths Fellowship; Ceol Neamh; Forks of Delaware Tin Lizzies, Panther Valley Irish American Association; Kerry Dancers; Lehighton Ambulance; Franklin Township Fire Company; Blue Eagle Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps; 81st Pennsylvania Company K Civil War Re-enactors; U.S. Submarine Veterans; Bowmanstown Fire Company; Bob Swaim: Bob the Bike Guy; Elegant Arrivals; Patchtown Players; Carbon County Labor Council; Leiby’s Carriage Service; Ace Fusion Championship Wrestling; Brian Boru Pipes and Drums; Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick; Mack Trucks; Albrightsville Fire Company; McDonald’s; Asa Packer Mansion.Third DivisionCeltic United Pipe and Drums; Blue Shamrock Golf Course; Emerald Isle Step Dancers; Mahanoy City Historical Society; A and J Limo; Nesquehoning Ambulance; Nesquehoning Hose Company; Quitapahilla Highlanders Pipe Band; Carbon County Shrine Club; Operation Touch of Home; Star Hose Company No. 1; Car Country 96; WLEV; New Columbus Fire Company; Skyliners Drum and Bugle; West End Fire Company No. 2; Pocono Whitewater and Summit Hill Diligence Fire Company.