Take part in St. Patrick's Day festivities in Palatine
The organizers of the eighth annual "Paint the Town Green" St. Patrick's Day celebration are seeking sponsors as well as entrants for the Saturday, March 17, parade, Irish market and scavenger hunt, which will be held in downtown Palatine.
Applications for entry in the parade, Irish market and sponsorships for the scavenger hunt are being accepted through Wednesday, Jan. 31, and are available at www.stpatspalatine.com. A limited amount of openings are available for the Irish market on a first come first served basis.
Participants for the scavenger hunt will be accepted online at www.stpatspalatine.com until Saturday, March 9, and on the day of the event at the Irish market.
"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 eighth year," said event coordinator, Liz Noe of ElizEvents.
"As during the last few years, the parade will march through downtown Palatine and will go right past the Irish market. We anticipate a good deal of traffic at the Irish market this year with Irish dance demonstrations and music, as well as with final registration for the photo scavenger hunt.
"The scavenger hunt will add an exciting new twist to the festivities," said Noe. "Individuals will be able to register individually or as part of a team to take pictures and answer questions from provided clues at hunt sponsors and at other locations throughout Palatine.
"Teams can pick up the clues and download the app at the Irish market and then begin the hunt. Teams will have until midnight on Tuesday, March 20, to submit their answers for judging. The winning team will receive a package filled with merchant goodies and a cash prize."
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 and many levels of sponsorship include advertising to 22,000 recipients of the Daily Herald in a special "Paint the Town Green" insert.
Sponsorships start at $50 and will be accepted through Friday, Feb. 9. Details are available at www.stpatspalatine.com. Current sponsors include Durty Nellie's, Daily Herald Media Group and ElizEvents.
"This event would not be possible without financial support from the community," said Noe. "From $50 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 under a tent outside of Durty Nellie's, 180 North Smith St., in downtown Palatine, and runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The scavenger hunt will accept last minute registrations at the market. Entrants will be able to pick up their clues at the market, download the app and immediately start the hunt.
The parade, which begins at 11 a.m., as well as the Irish market, will 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 Brockway 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 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 1996, Palatine, IL 60078.