St. Paddy's Day celebrations Saturday
Lake County residents can enjoy the luck o' the Irish with St. Patrick's Day celebrations Saturday in Fox Lake and Lake Villa.
The Fox Lake Volunteer Fire Protection District kicks off its 100th anniversary with its annual St. Patty's Day Dance, while Lake Villa hosts its annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.
The St. Patty's Day dance runs from 6 p.m. to midnight at fire station number 2 at 306 Washington St., Fox Lake. The cost is $5 per couple, or $3 for individuals.
The event features food, Las Vegas-style gambling games, such as black jack and roulette, dancing and refreshments.
The band, "Speak Easy," will play throughout the night, said fire department Capt. Rich Hoehne.
"It's always a great time with the live music and the mingling," Hoehne said. "This is a first year of a smoke-free event, though. So people should be prepared for it."
The event helps fund schooling, equipment and training for the volunteer firefighters. Last year, $8,000 was raised during the event.
In Lake Villa, roughly 75 floats and other attractions will line up for the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade through the streets, said village Clerk Alyce Brownlee.
The parade kicks off at noon at Polombi Middle School at 133 McKinley Ave., she said. It will wind its way through the neighboring subdivision: heading south along McKinley before turning west along Kevin Avenue. Kevin bends north before the parade turns west again along Wesley Avenue. The parade will then make its way north along Walden Avenue before turning east on Burnett Avenue. It then turns north on Sherwood Avenue, before crossing Grand Avenue to Cedar Drive and ending at the Metra parking lot.
After the parade, there will be a village-sponsored meal served at the Lake Villa VFW at 130 E. Grand Ave., Brownlee said.
The cost of the meal is $7.50 for adults and $5 for seniors and children under 12. A hot dog plate is also available for those who do not like corned beef.
"This is one of the bigger parades we have every year, and with the election year going on, it should be bigger than ever," she said. "We've had this for so many years and people really seem to like it."