Community can participate in Palatine's St. Patrick's Day celebration
Organizers of the fifth annual "Paint the Town Green" St. Patrick's Day celebration are seeking sponsors as well as entrants for the Saturday, March 14, parade and Irish market, which will be held in downtown Palatine.
Applications for entry in the parade and Irish market are being accepted through Saturday, Jan. 31, and are available online at www.stpatspalatine.com. A limited amount of openings are available for the Irish market on a first come first served basis.
"This is one of the very few St. Patrick's Day parades and celebrations in the Chicago area and I'm excited to see it return to Palatine for its fifth year," said event coordinator Liz Noe of ElizEvents. "This year's parade will be two blocks longer than in the past and will go right past the Irish Market."
The "Paint the Town Green" event continues to enhance Palatine's position as a destination town for public festivals. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available for interested area businesses. Sponsorships start at $25 and will be accepted through Friday, Feb. 6. Details are available at www.stpatspalatine.com.
Current sponsors include Durty Nellie's, Emmett's Brewing Company and the Daily Herald Media Group.
"This event would not be possible without financial support from the community," said Noe. "From $25 to $1,000, all participation levels help assure there will be a parade and market for years to come."
The festivities will begin with an Irish Market from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. under a tent outside of Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., in downtown Palatine.
The parade, which begins at 11 a.m., will also serve to collect food, clothing and donations for Journeys the Road Home, an organization serving the homeless and near-homeless in the North and Northwest suburbs.
The parade begins at the corner of Wood and Oak streets in downtown Palatine, and continues west on Wood to Smith and north to Colfax.
"Entertainment is being planned at a number of local businesses, bars and restaurants throughout the day," said Noe. "A full schedule of events will be released in early February. This event is a great way for the public to get to know our local merchants."
For more information on the St. Patrick's Day celebration, visit www.stpatspalatine.com, email info@stpatspalatine.com, or write to "Paint the Town Green," P.O. Box 579, Palatine, IL 60078.