HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - The Grand Colleen Pageant, an annual Holyoke tradition to select the five women to be in the Grand Colleen's Court for the Holyoke Saint Patrick's Day Parade on March 23rd, will be held on January 4. The pageant will take place at 7:00 p.m. at Holyoke High School in the John F. Sears auditorium. The Saint Patrick's Committee of Holyoke says this event dates back to 1955, when the first Colleen was chosen by ballots published in the Holyoke Transcript Telegram for about two weeks. The system was changed to a contest in 1963. Holyoke community comes together for 9th annual Hanukkah Observance The Grand Colleen Pageant will select the five women, eligible between the ages of 17 and 24, for the court. The 2025 Grand Colleen will be selected at the Grand Coronation Ball and Awards Dinner on February 15. This event celebrates Irish heritage within the community and allows young women to gain valuable skills such as public speaking and interview skills, as well as the chance to get to know like-minded individuals. The 2024 Grand Colleen, Elizabeth Katherine Gourde, will be present at this year's pageant, as well as the 2024 Colleen's Court: Natalie Belle Morris, Hunter Rose Edwards, Taryn Shaylene Ryan, and Amelia Frances George. Tickets for the Grand Colleen Pageant are $20 for adults, $10 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under. They will be available for sale with cash only at the door. For more information about the event, visit holyokestpatricksparade.com. The 48th Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race will be held on Saturday, March 22. Local News Headlines Crash involving motorcycle in Chicopee New Year’s Eve First Night celebration is an annual Foxborough tradition Bridgewater accepting town manager applications Hampden fire department holding CPR training course for the new year WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.