From Lackawanna County all the way to Fifth Avenue in New York City, a group called the Double R Twirlettes is appearing in Tuesday's Saint Patrick's Day Parade.

They gathered in the pre-dawn darkness in a chilly Peckville parking lot to begin their trip to the 248th annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade.

"Well, I was pretty excited because it's like an opportunity. You don't get to New York a lot," said twirler Nicole Bieri. The 15 year old is one of 40 girls on the trip.

The head of Double R said only the older girls are going because the parade route is a long one, 40 blocks.

It's been a busy time for the girls of the Double R. Two big parades in less than a week. On Saturday, it was the Scranton Saint Patrick's Day Parade, and now, New York City.

The head of the organization said they applied to march in the New York City parade and included an audition video.

The parade organizers liked what they saw.

"We were so excited. We've done so many traveling performances and this is the first time we've done the New York City parade," said Kathleen Mercatilli of the Double R Twirlettes.

The feeling is contagious. Samantha Rutkoski of Dickson City is only 11 years old, and she's been twirling for six years.

"Oh my god, when I first heard about it, I was major excited," Rutkoski said.

Many parents are along on the trip, paying their own way to go to the Big Apple.

It really is a big day. In addition to the parade, the schedule leaves enough time for a little shopping and sight seeing.