St. Patrick's Parade award winners named
Approximately 80 parade entries and nearly 100 volunteers made the 2015 St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday, March 14, a success.
Last year, the St. Charles Police Department estimated 10,000 parade attendees and surpassed that number by calculating 18,500 attendees for the 2015 parade.
The parade grand marshals, St. Charles Kiwanis, were recognized in celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Kiwanis.
Parade entry winners are as follows:
• Children's Showcase: first place, Girl Scout Troop 4622; second place, Flannery School of Irish Dance; and third place, St. Patrick's Catholic School Girls Scouts.
• Nonprofit Showcase: first place, St. Charles Public Library; second place, Congregational United Church; and third place, St. Charles Park District/ St. Charles Convention & Visitor's Bureau.
• Business Showcase: first place, First State Bank; second place, Smallcakes a Cupcakery; and third place, Kelly Orthodontics.
• Best of Show: first place, Knights of Columbus Council 12497
Parade sponsors include: (Presenting) Fox Valley Buick GMC and Fox Valley Volkswagen; (Gold) Advanced Disposal, Onesti Entertainment, Kane County Chronicle, McNally's Heating & Cooling; (Silver) Delnor Express Care, McNally's Traditional Irish Pub, Pheasant Run Resort, Rookies Pub & Grill, Valley Ambulatory Surgery Center; and (Bronze) H&R Block, Spare Wheels Transportation, St. Charles Veterinary Clinic and AHC Advisors, Inc.
The parade committee was chaired by Craig Larsen of AHC Advisors and included John Hughes, ABS Graphics; Steve Martin of First State Bank; Darlene Riebe, resident; Betsy Penny, resident; Jan Wilson, Hair Capers; Marty Strauss, St. Charles Veterinary Clinic; Shay Clarke, McNally's Irish Pub, Tony Bellafiore, City of St. Charles Public Works and Commander Erik Mahan and Officer Rich Clark, City of St. Charles Police Department.
The committee would like to give special thanks to the following people, businesses and organizations: ABS Graphics; AHC Advisors Inc.; Advanced Disposal; City of St. Charles; City of St. Charles Police Department; Ingersoll & Associates; Kelly Orthodontics; Mayor Ray Rogina & Diane Rogina; McDowell Remodeling Inc.; Emcee Shay Clarke; St. Charles City Council; St. Charles Kiwanis; Swifty Print of St. Charles; The Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau; Thompson Middle School; and Yurs Funeral Home.
The 2015 parade featured bands, Irish dancers, authentic Irish music, floats, school groups, Girl Scouts, service clubs, and an array of floats. The day also featured a Deck out Your Lucky Dog Contest, sponsored by the St. Charles Veterinary Clinic, and a dance show at the Arcada Theatre that featured area dance troupes.
The parade recap video can be viewed on the Downtown St. Charles Partnership website at youtube.com/DowntownStCharles.
The mission of the Downtown St. Charles Partnership is to enhance the economic viability and to preserve the character and beauty of downtown St. Charles. In addition to business recruitment, business assistance and downtown preservation, the partnership produces the St. Charles Fine Art Show and Holiday Homecoming. For more information about the partnership, including membership, volunteer opportunities and events, visit www.downtownstcharles.org.