The 2025 Chicopee colleen and her court unveil their new tartan during a celebration on Dec. 6.
Photo credit: Joel Rodowicz
CHICOPEE — While many people prepare for the holiday season in December, the Chicopee St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has been busy handing out awards, appointing important members for its festivities and opening its colleen application.
On Dec. 6, the committee hosted a tartan christening to celebrate a project that they have been working on for the past decade.
Chicopee Parade Committee member Mary Rodowicz explained that the journey of its tartan was a multiyear process, which involved deciding on the colors, working with a designer to develop the pattern and finally having it approved and listed on the Scottish Register of Tartans.
A small subcommittee worked on this project, advised by consultant Gerry Healey, who has expertise in the tartan process, and has advised other communities as well.
The tartan was “christened” by Fr. Bill Tourigny on Dec. 6 at a ceremony held at “The Hub” at Market Square.
The goal of the Chicopee tartan is to celebrate the Irish tradition and allow people to identify all that is good in the community and exclusive about Chicopee.
Many colors were selected for the celebration, including blue, gold, green, red and white for the Chicopee city seal; green and gold for the College of Our Lady of the Elms; blue, gold, red and white for Westover Air Reserve Base; blue and gold for Chicopee Comprehensive High School; and red and gold for Chicopee High School.
Tartan clothing and products will be available for purchase in the coming months at Parade Committee events.
The Parade Committee also opened its 2026 Colleen Contest application. Applications, rules and regulations for the Colleen Contest are available on the committee’s website, at chicopeeparadecommittee.com.
Applications will be accepted until Feb. 1. All women ages 17-20 who reside in Chicopee or are enrolled as residents at Elms College are eligible to apply.
Participation in the colleen contest allows young women in Chicopee to apply for scholarships, build interviewing skills, work on resumes, make connections with peers and community leaders, and practice public speaking.
The Chicopee Colleen Contest and Coronation Ball are the Chicopee St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee’s most anticipated events of the year. Both events usually take place in February.
The colleen and her court also have the honor of riding on the colleen’s float in the Chicopee contingent in the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade in March, the East Longmeadow Fourth of July Parade and the Big E Parade on “Chicopee Day”. They will also attend numerous city events throughout the year.
Last year’s Chicopee colleen, Daiana Torres, shared her feelings about being the city’s colleen. Besides just thinking it be a fun experience to compete for Chicopee’s colleen, Torres said she wanted to be more involved in the community.
“I think running for [colleen], part of it was just like an experience for me but also, I did want to help out and I do want to help out more,” Torres said. “I do want to have more of an influence, especially on little girls who are seeing me and my court and just thinking one day they could be that.”
The Chicopee Parade Committee has already made headway for the upcoming year. President Aly Sliwa announced the award recipients for the 2026 parade season. The announcement was made at the committee’s monthly meeting on November 10.
Bernie St. George will serve as Parade Marshal and will lead the Chicopee contingent in the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 22.
He is a former Chicopee business owner, a member of Knights of Columbus 4044, Galaxy Community Council and Cigars for Soldiers, as well as a member of the St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke’s Board of Directors.
Haley Jarvis will receive the Woods Award, which recognizes a committee member for long-term, exemplary service.
Elder Council 69, Council and Home and School Association will be recognized with the Atkinson Award, which honors a person or organization in the community that has supported the committee.
2026 Award recipients will be formally recognized at the President’s Dinner on Feb. 7. The dinner will be hosted at the K of C Elder Council 69, located at 460 Granby Road.
The public is invited, and tickets to the event will go on sale after the New Year.
