Palatine celebrates St. Pat’s Day with ‘Paint the Town Green’ events

Palatine will “Paint the Town Green” on Saturday, March 16, with the community’s third annual St. Patrick’s Day celebratio. It includes a parade, Irish market and festivities in various businesses throughout 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 the Road Home. This is going to be a great day to be Irish or pretend to be Irish.”

The festivities will begin with an Irish Market under a tent outside of Durty Nellie’s, 180 N. Smith St., in downtown Palatine. The Market will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and feature 16 vendors selling dog snacks and sweet treats as well as Irish wares and trinkets.

The participating vendors are Bead World, Bonkers Gifts, Signature Sweets, Little Sisters of the Poor, Cookie Cards, Oberweis Dairy, the Downtown Palatine Business Association, Maggie’s Munchies, Lochbands and Felde Chiropractic. Information will also be available on McLin Tours and Travels, Palatine Patch, Daily Herald, Renewable Energy and Dr. Gerry Aylward, Chiagoland 4 Braces.

The parade, which begins at 11 a.m., will feature 45 entries including Grand Marshals Lucky McClover and Katie M’Lady. Irish music will be provided by two bag pipe bands, the Chicago Highlanders and Midlothian Scottish Bag Pipe Band. The Trinity Irish Dancers, The Lucky Little Leprechauns of Dorset Avenue and The Palatine Paddy Wagons will also add to the entertainment.

The parade will serve to collect donations for Journeys the Road Home, an organization serving the homeless and near-homeless in the North and Northwest suburbs. During the parade, marchers with shopping carts will collect food, clothing and disposable paper products for the organization. The parade begins at the corner of Wood and Oak streets, in downtown Palatine, and continues west to Brockway and south to Wilson.

“Entertainment is being planned at a number of local businesses, bars and restaurants throughout the day,” Noe said. “A full schedule of events is available on our website at www.stpatspalatine.com. This festival is going to be a full day of fun for the whole family!”

The ‘Paint the Town Green’ event continues to enhance Palatine’s position as a destination town for public festivals. The premier sponsor and presenter of the festival is Durty Nellie’s. Current top sponsors include the Daily Herald Media Group and Northwest Community Healthcare. Other sponsors include Lavelle Law, City Beverage, Emmett’s Brewing Company, Indian Guides/Indian Princesses, Palatine Patch and Chicagoland 4 Braces, Dr. Gerry Aylward. Assistance has also been provided by Arlington Toyota, Borne2Dance and Bauer’s Brauhaus.

For information on the St. Patrick’s Day celebration, visit www.stpatspalatine.com or email info@stpatspalatine.com.

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