Coming prepared to Naperville's St. Patrick's Day parade

Weeks of coordination between friends and neighbors finally paid off for Jim Ferraro Saturday.

Staked out along on the west side of Main Street in downtown Naperville so the morning sun can provide some warmth, Ferraro and pals laid out snacks, hot chocolate, party favors and other items on a table that fits perfectly next to a bridge pillar, but doesn't block the sidewalk. They were in place with wives and kids almost two hours before the first parade participant passed by them.

"At this point, we've got it down to a science," Ferraro said. "All the tailgating at ballgames is practice for this."

It's clear that it's not just organizers of Naperville's annual St. Patrick's Day parade who do advance prep work.

Seven-year-old Nathan Parent had his mother track down his traditional St. Patrick's outfit days before attending the parade. Decked out in an oversized green vest emblazoned with St. Patrick's Day greetings, a giant green sequined bow tie and green and silver beads, there was no doubt the youngster was in the right place Saturday morning.

"We keep it in the storage room, but I didn't know where really," the Naperville boy explained. "I wore the same thing last year, but it fits more this year."

Coordinated by the West Suburban Irish, this year's parade was the biggest since the event began nearly 15 years ago, said parade chairman Chuck Corrigan. With 108 parade entrants, Corrigan spent Saturday keeping the parade flow moving as quickly as possible.

"We try to be done by noon because we don't want to interrupt the downtown businesses," he said. "And with so many this year, somebody's got to keep them moving."

Corrigan did let a pack of Cub Scouts stop momentarily in front of the judge's stage to perform push-ups. The scouts said they had worked on the routine before the parade.

"It's tradition," said 8-year-old Joshua Tak. "We practiced before the parade, and I did all 10 then, too. I'm glad that's all we had to do."

This year's grand marshal was newly minted state Rep. Michael Connelly who has walked the parade in the past as a political candidate for various offices, but had never been the guest of honor.

"There's more pressure when you're the grand marshal," he said. "You don't know whether to wave left to right or right to left, but today it's wonderful to be Irish."