Carbon County's tribute to Irish ancestry and heritage will take place on Sundaywhen the 20th 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 former Carbon County commissioner and Jim Thorpe businessman Charles E. Wildoner 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."Parade organizer Ronald Sheehan, meanwhile, said that contrary to rumors circulating in the area, the 20th annual parade will not be the last one sponsored."We certainly plan to continue the tradition next year," he said.The lineup for this year's parade is as follows:First DivisionJim Thorpe Police Department Cruiser and Mayor Michael Sofranko; Grand Marshal Charles E. Wildoner; Carol Coll, Judy Nederostek, Shawn Kresge and Ryan Lee, Aides to the Grand Marshal; Brian Boru 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; Carbon County Commissioners William O'Gurek and Tom Gerhard; District Attorney Jean Engler; Carbon County Director of Veterans Affairs Henry Derosiers; Carbon County Sheriff Anthony Harvilla; Jim Thorpe Borough Council; Celtic United Pipe and Drums; U.S. Postal Service; Carbon County Friends of Animals; Eclectic Circus; Jim Thorpe SideCar Tours; AOH Lehigh County Division 1; Greater Scranton Black Diamond Pipe Band; Shawn Kresge Electric.Second DivisionJim Thorpe Fire Department; Blue Eagle Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps; Knights of Columbus, Damien Council No. 598; Pocono Whitewater; Irish Wolfhounds; Pennsylvania Miss Amazing; Carbon County Fair Queen; Miss Schuylkill County; Broome County Celtic Pipes and Drums, AOH Dauphin County Division 1, Bobby Sands; Allentown Hibernians Hurling Club; Cat Country 96 and WLEV; Panther Valley Irish American Association; Emerald Step Dancers; Nesquehoning Ambulance; Nesquehoning Hose Company; New Columbus Fire Company; 81st Pennsylvania Company K Civil War Re-enactors; U.S. Submarine Veterans; Carbon County Central Labor Council; Kilte Band of York; Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick; Hickory Run Tavern/Pine Ridge Services; Lake Harmony Turismo; Black Jack Kehoe AOH; Carbon County Shrine Club; Forks of the Delaware Tin Lizzies; Emerald Star Hose Co. No. 1.Third DivisionMackay Pipe Band; Franklin Township Fire Company; Mahanoy City Historical Society; McDonalds; Patchtown Players, Leiby's Carriage Service; 903 Rentals; Kerry Dancers; Lehighton Ambulance; Bowmanstown Volunteer Fire Company; Penn Dixie Band; Carbon Masonic Lodge No. 242; Mack Trucks; Mahoning Valley Fire Company; Hawk Mountain Highlanders; Mauch Chunk Rod and Gun Club; Emmaus Sentinel Alumni Drum and Bugle; Messengers Motorcycle Club; Ruhmel Transportation; Carbon County Animal Rescue; West End Fire Company; Diligence Fire Company, Summit Hill.