Palatine celebrates St. Patrick's Day Saturday
Palatine will "Paint the Town Green" Saturday, March 15, with the community's fourth annual St. Patrick's Day celebration, which will include a parade, Irish market and festivities in various businesses.
"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 parade, which begins at 11 a.m., will feature 50 entries including Grand Marshals Lucky McClover and Katie M'Lady. Irish music will be provided by the 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.
During the parade, marchers with shopping carts will collect food, clothing and disposable paper products for Journeys the Road Home.
The parade begins at the corner of Wood and Oak streets in downtown Palatine and continues west to Brockway and south to Wilson.
Earlier in the day, 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. until 1 p.m. and feature 16 vendors who will be selling foods, treats, jewelry, Irish trinkets and other items. Vendors include Bonker's Gifts, CristalMe Rhinestone Apparel, Cookie Cards and Bead World.
There will be a variety of music at the market, with Merv Collins and his instrumental guitar from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. and Guyz with Bad Eyez performing a wide variety of music on their guitars from 10:30 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. Dr. Gerry Alyward and Cuchulain perform Irish music from Noon until 1 p.m.
"Entertainment is being planned at a number of local businesses, bars and restaurants throughout the day," said Noe. "Some of the establishments that are participating are Durty Nellie's, Emmett's Ale House and Bauer's Brauhaus."
A full schedule of events is available at stpatspalatine.com.
Durty Nellie's will be offering an Irish breakfast menu from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. and continue with Irish food and drink specials as well as music throughout the day. Their tentative schedule starts at 12:30 p.m. with the Midlothian Bag Pipe Band, followed by Kevin Flynn & The Avondale Ramblers at 1:30 p.m., the Trinity Irish Dancers at 3:30 p.m., Logical Fleadh at 4:30 p.m. and The Fisticuffs at 6:30 p.m. The final performances of the evening will be Rodd Tuffcurls & The Bench Press at 9:30 p.m., followed by Modern Day Romeos at midnight.
Emmett's Ale House will be serving Kegs N Eggs from 9 a.m. until Noon as well as traditional Irish foods throughout the day. After the parade at 1 p.m., Emmett's will conduct a firkin tapping ceremony of Emmett's Rafferty Red beer, where a spigot is driven into a small wooden keg with a wooden mallet. Mayor Jim Schwantz will officiate.
Following the tapping, the Palatine Township Republican Organization will hold a meet and greet. Entertainment continues at 4 p.m. with bagpipes in the main bar.
The premier sponsor of the festival is Durty Nellie's. The media sponsor is the Daily Herald Media Group. Other sponsors include Lavelle Law, Lake Shore Beverage, Emmett's Brewing Company, Law Office of Mark J. Matychowicz and Chicagoland 4 Braces, Dr. Gerry Aylward Orthodontics. Assistance has also been provided by Borne2Dance and Bauer's Brauhaus.