The big event for The Greater Easthampton St. Patrick’s Parade Committee is, obviously, the annual St. Patrick’s Parade in Holyoke, but members keep busy with other activities throughout the year.

“We are hosting and sponsoring more events in the community,” said William E. Lynch IV, a member of the committee.

In September the committee presented its first Irish Festival; it took place at Mill Side Park in Easthampton and more than 2,000 people attended. “There was music, dancers and entertainment. It was a great time,” Lynch recalled.

Other activities have included a casino bus trip, a celebrity bartending night, a trivia night and the annual Irish Night.

This year’s Easthampton contingent in the parade will include Mayor Nicole M. LaChapelle, representatives of the Easthampton Police and Fire departments, the Easthampton High School band and award winners.

Those honorees are: Marshal, Maureen Sheehan of Southampton; Shamrock Award, Genevieve and Patrick Brough of Fink & Perras Insurance Agency; and Gallagher-Walker Award, Dan Carey of Easthampton.

Melissa R. Pike, secretary of the committee and former vice president and president, was the 2012 Easthampton marshal and 2017 Gallagher-Walker Award recipient. “I will proudly be marching in our division,” she enthused. “The committee is often strongly represented in the contingent as well as volunteering for the Holyoke committee. With over 20 active members, we are building a strong presence in the valley with our events.”

For Lynch, the best part of the parade is “the overall atmosphere that overcomes all of Western Mass. as there is so much support from all of the area cities and town to the leaders and citizens.”

The Irish culture is celebrated and shared, “and it is awesome to see everyone having fun,” he said. “I love being on this committee and being involved with the other members. I’ve learned a lot myself since joining, and I have met some great people along the way.”

He considers it important to celebrate every heritage, not just the Irish. “I have attended multiple cultural events in my life, and I love learning new traditions or trying new foods. To be able to share where our ancestors came from and educate others helps bring everyone together,” he said.

And for him, it is important to have an Easthampton contingent because it helps promote the Irish culture to the community. “We have a focus on education and community involvement. The (Holyoke) parade and road race are great events that happen once a year, but we continue to stay involved in the community through the entire year,” he said.