Sharon prepares for second annual St. Patrick's Parade, new festivities added to celebration

The City of Sharon is preparing for its Second Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. 

The Slainte Sharon parade kicks off at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at the Penn State Shenango campus. 

Ahead of the parade, the city will host its first-ever "Lucky Leprechaun Dash,"  a fun run on the parade route that will occur before the parade. 

Participants are invited to dress up in green or gold or anything that evokes St. Patrick's Day and do the half-mile dash between Quaker Steak and Lube and Penn State Shenango, which are the end and start locations of the run.

"We'll be starting at 5:45 p.m. from Quaker Steak & Lube and running the parade route to the corner of Shenango Avenue and Silver Street by the Sharon Post Office and then back again to The Lube," explained Amy Javens, owner of Cycle Life Studio whose company is coordinating the free run. "Participants can walk, run, dash, or do an Irish jig to complete it."

After the run, the parade starts with the mascot "Flynnie" of Flynn's Tire, Penn State Shenango, Buhl Club dancers, Sharon High School Band, Irish organizations, businesses, and elected officials. 

The parade is followed by a Blessing of the Pets in the Lube parking lot, music, and other festivities. Green fireworks will be set off at 7:30 p.m. 

The parade date, March 16, was purposely chosen so that it doesn't interfere with actual St. Patrick's Day events in the Shenango Valley.

The city is also inviting the public to come out and bring items to support local animal charities, which include the Shenango Valley Animal Shelter, Tails of Hope, Strayhaven Animal Shelter, and Animal Protection League of Western Pennsylvania, who will all provide a representative to judge pets who dress up for the parade.

"We've got a few surprises up our sleeves,' said Courtney Cilli, Downtown Events Coordinator for Sharon.