Get your green on with Saturday St. Paddy's parades
St. Patrick's Day isn't until Tuesday, but you wouldn't know it by the lineup of Saturday parades in the suburbs and Chicago. So pick your parade, put on some green and get ready to celebrate. Check out more weekend fun — St. Patrick's and otherwise — at dailyherald.com/calendar.
• Naperville: Join the West Suburban Irish for Naperville's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. It kicks off at 10 a.m. at Naperville North High School, 899 N. Mill St., and continues south on Mill Street, east on Jefferson Avenue, south on Main Street and then west on Water Street to the Municipal Center. Residents are encouraged to donate a nonperishable food item to benefit the Loaves and Fishes Community Food Pantry.
• Dundee Township/East and West Dundee: The Thom McNamee Memorial St. Patrick's Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. at Wenholz Avenue and Water Street and travels east on Barrington Avenue, then south on River Street. Parade ends at Bandito Barney's Beach Club on River Street. The grandstand will be at the corner of Barrington Avenue and River Street.
• Palatine: Palatine's parade is part of the town's Paint the Town Green celebration and features 50 entries, including the Midlothian Scottish Bag Pipe Band, the Trinity Irish Dancers and the Lucky Little Leprechauns of Dorset Avenue. The parade begins at 11 a.m. at the corner of Wood and Oak streets and continues west on Wood Street to Smith Street and north to Colfax. During the parade, marchers with shopping carts will collect food, clothing and disposable paper products for Journeys The Road Home — an organization serving the homeless in the suburbs.
• Lake Villa: Lineup is at 10:30 a.m. at Palombi School, 156 McKinley Ave., for the parade, which steps off at noon. The route heads north on McKinley Avenue to Burnett Avenue, west on Burnett, north on Sherwood Avenue to Grand Avenue, west for about a block and then east on Cedar Avenue. Nonperishable food donations for the Lake Villa Township Food Pantry will be collected from spectators during the parade. An $8 corned-beef-and-cabbage meal will be served at the VFW hall at 130 E. Grand Ave. following parade.
• Chicago: The parade starts at noon at Balboa and Columbus Drive, then proceeds north on Columbus Drive. The viewing stand is in front of Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park, at Columbus Drive and Congress Parkway.
The dyeing of the Chicago River takes place before the parade at 9:15 a.m.
• St. Charles: The 16th annual St. Charles St. Patrick's Day parade begins at 2 p.m. at Main Street and Route 64. It features Irish dancers, Irish music, floats and more. The St. Charles Veterinary Clinic is hosting a Deck out Your Lucky Dog contest and decorated dogs are invited to walk in the parade.