Palatine gearing up for St. Patrick's Day festival
Palatine will “Paint the Town Green” on Saturday, March 12, with the community's first St. Patrick's Day celebration — including a parade, Irish market and festivities in various businesses throughout the town.
“We've planned a family-friendly day of activities to celebrate St. Patrick's Day,” said event coordinator Liz Noe of ElizEvents.
“We'll have Irish food, drink, entertainment, shopping and we'll be collecting items to support the homeless and near-homeless served by Journeys from PADS to HOPE.”
The celebration will kick off with a parade at 11 a.m. in downtown Palatine. The parade begins at the community parking lot at 200 E. Wood St., continues west to Benton, north to Colfax and concludes near the train station.
The parade will have 35 entries and 500 participants, including the Chicago Slaughter indoor football dance team, McNulty Irish Dancers, Durty Nellie's Character Fleadh Band, The Little Leprechauns of Doreset Avenue and the Palatine Dance Company.
During the parade, marchers with shopping carts will collect food, clothing and disposable paper products for Journeys from PADS to HOPE. Items may also be dropped off at the train station, Harrington Manor, Durty Nellie's, Fox Glove Cottage and Bead World during or after the parade.
An Irish Market will be set up at the train station from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., with 11 vendors including Bead World selling Celtic jewelry and Palatine Bank & Trust with the “Money Machine.” The Trinity Irish Dancers will teach Irish dance.
There will be a variety of music throughout the day — Pam Brunkalla at 11:30 a.m.; Merv Collins at 12:30 p.m. and Guyz with Bad Eyez performing for two hours starting at 1:30 p.m.
During the day, Durty Nellie's will serve Irish food and drink specials as well as provide Irish music. Character Fleadh will play 12:30-3 p.m. and Flatfoot 56 will play “Celtic punk” 4-6 p.m.
Following the parade, members of the Chicago Slaughter football team will make guest appearances at Durty Nellie's.
The after-party begins at 7 p.m. with the music of Rod Tuffcurls & Bench Press until 9 p.m. RePlay performs 9:30-10:30 p.m. and Wedding Banned plays 11 p.m. to closing. A $5 cover applies after 4 p.m.
A wide variety of businesses will be celebrating Paint the Town Green. Harrington Manor will have a storewide sale during the celebration and Patti's Pretties will have special pricing on flowers, clothing, jewelry and foodstuffs. Emmett's will serve Kegs N Eggs from 9-11:30 a.m. as well as traditional Irish foods throughout the day and live Irish music from noon-6 p.m.
Throughout the day, an Irish Princess and Leprechaun will tour downtown businesses.
Sponsors of Paint the Town Green are Durty Nellie's, Journal & Topics Newspaper, ElizEvents, Budweiser and Palatine Bank & Trust. Visit stpatspalatine.com or email info@stpatspalatine.com.