Palatine to Paint the Town Green March 12 with Irish festival
Suburbanites wanting to celebrate their Irish heritage — along with anyone looking to embrace the ubiquitous shamrocks, corned beef and green beer of St. Patrick’s Day — can now take part in festivities a bit closer to home.
The first Paint the Town Green celebration is set for March 12 in downtown Palatine, complete with a parade and Irish fare, drinks, shopping and entertainment for all ages.
“Anything we can do to expose people to what we’ve got going in Palatine is a good thing,” Mayor Jim Schwantz said. “And if it’s successful, we’d love this to be an annual event.”
The parade may not be on the scale as its downtown Chicago and South Side counterparts, but spectators will be entertained by 39 entries and more than 500 participants, including the Chicago Slaughter indoor football dance team, the McNaulty Irish Dancers and the Little Leprechauns of Doreset Avenue.
Barring severe weather, the parade kicks off at 11 a.m. at 200 E. Wood St., continues west to Benton, north to Colfax, west to Brockway, south on Wood Street and ends at the train station.
Afterward at noon, Schwantz will lead a “firkin tapping” ceremony by driving a spigot into a wooden keg at Emmett’s Ale House, 110 N. Brockway St.
“I’m German and French, but I’ve got a green T-shirt and look forward to being involved,” Schwantz said.
For shopping and entertainment, Paint the Town Green will feature an Irish Market from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the train station. Twelve vendors will be on-hand, in addition to several musicians and the Trinity Irish Dancers teaching Irish dance.
Event coordinator Liz Noe of ElizEvents, who last year got village approval to put on the privately funded festival, said people will be collecting food, clothing and disposable paper products to support the homeless and near-homeless through Journeys from PADS to HOPE.
Palatine joins Naperville, St. Charles and Elmhurst among the few suburban communities to host Irish celebrations taking place around St. Patrick’s Day.
Hoffman Estates held a parade for years under the guidance of the late Village President Michael O’Malley, but canceled it more than a decade ago due to lack of interest.