The City of Utica's St. Patrick's Day Parade was started approximately 30 years ago by Johnnie Oakes and a small group of Irishmen that walked down Varick Street.  At that time, the parade consisted of one band and a just a few vehicles. The parade was later led by a group of gentlemen that assembled at Roger's Coffee Shop on Varick Street in Utica: known to many as The Rainbow Sportsmen Club.  As the parade grew over the years, the Adelphia Cable Cares Club was asked to assist in its organization.  As time went on, the parade was handed over to the club for their full-time involvement.  The Cable Cares Club is made up of employees of Adelphia Communications who started the club to help area children, and participates in different events throughout the city.  As the parade became larger, the decision was made to move it to Genesee St. where it is still held today.  The parade has now grown to be one of the top five largest St. Patrick's Day parades in New York State. The addition of nationally renowned bands from all over the northeast has sparked an interest of many people from all over the state.  Last years attendance was estimated at over 40,000 plus people.  These bands are brought to Utica by many area businesses that sponsor them.  Bands that attend our parade then go onto Syracuse and other upstate cities; they are from Canada, Pennsylvania and throughout New York as well as our local favorites.

Our parade became nationally known about 10 years ago when Dolly Parton was in town.  That day, Mother Nature was nice enough to give us about 30 inches of snow during the parade.  Ms. Parton was on the 'David Letterman Show' later that week and mentioned that she watched a parade in Utica, New York during a blizzard. 

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