Springfield Cancels St Patrick's Day Parade

SPRINGFIELD, PA — The Springfield Saint Patrick's Day Parade Committee announced today the 2020 St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been canceled due to heightened health concerns and as part of national and regional efforts to reduce the rate at which COVID-19 is spreading.

The parade was scheduled to occur on Saturday, March 14 at noon.

The decision made by the parade committee received the unanimous support of the Springfield Board of Commissioners.

Parade organizers said the decision to cancel was difficult because many township residents are passionate about the parade and the way it brings the community together. In the end, however, organizers felt it was better to exercise an abundance of caution and avoid the risk of exposing the elderly and individuals with adverse health conditions to the virus.

"There is an Irish proverb, 'God is good, but never dance in a small boat,'" said Steve Burns, chair of the parade committee. "As much as all of the organizers would love to proceed with the parade, we recognize that it’s not worth the risk, particularly for our seniors and individuals with underlying health conditions. We felt it was better to be safe than sorry."

Organizers said a number of factors played into their thinking, including an increased focus among health experts on slowing the rate at which the virus spreads by minimizing "social contacts" in to help avoid hospitals and health care systems becoming overwhelmed at one time due to the rapid spread of the virus. Another concern for organizers was that individuals, particularly young people, could be carriers of the virus but not show or experience any symptoms, leading them to unknowingly spread the virus to others.

Those concerns became more magnified when organizers began hearing that the Springfield parade would likely see a significant spike in attendance from residents outside of the local community due to the cancellations of other Saint Patrick's Day parades in the region, including in the City of Philadelphia and West Chester.

"Local residents have a lot of pride in their Irish heritage," said Burns. "While we may have the Luck of the Irish, sometimes it’s best not to tempt fate."