St. Patrick's Day parades set for Saturday in city, suburbs
St. Patrick's Day kicks off early this weekend with a variety of suburban parades and the dyeing of the Chicago River downtown. One suburban parade - Palatine's Paint the Town Green - comes after St. Patrick's Day and is scheduled for Saturday, March 19.
Here is a list of parades scheduled for Saturday:
Chicago
The dyeing of the Chicago River kicks things off at 9 a.m., with the city's parade at noon Saturday. The parade starts at Balbo and Columbus Drive, then proceeds north on Columbus. The viewing stand is located in front of Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park, at Columbus and Congress Parkway. Visit chicagostpatsparade.com.
Naperville
Join the West Suburban Irish for Naperville's annual St. Patrick's Day parade at 10 a.m. Saturday. The parade kicks off at Naperville North High School, 899 N. Mill St., and continues south on Mill Street, east on Jefferson Avenue and south on Main Street. The parade ends on Main at Water Street. The Rotary Club of Naperville hosts the Gerald Subaru St. Paddy's 5K race, run and walk prior to the parade at 8 a.m. (630) 375-7725 or wsirish.org. Information on the 5K is at stpaddysday5k.com.
Dundee Township/ East and West Dundee
The annual Thom McNamee Memorial St. Patrick's Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday. The parade marches south from Wenholz Avenue and Water Street, goes east on Barrington Avenue and then turns south on River Street, ending at Jackson Street. The grandstand is on River Street, just south of Barrington Avenue. For information, visit dundeestpats.com. The Kilted 5K race takes place at 9 a.m. Saturday, at the bike trail at 10 S. River St. in East Dundee. Registration is $40.
Lake Villa
Lineup for this noon parade begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Palombi Middle School, 133 McKinley Ave. The parade heads north on McKinley Avenue to Burnett Avenue, then to Sherwood Avenue, Grand Avenue and Cedar Avenue, ending on Railroad Avenue by the Lake Villa VFW at 130 E. Grand Ave. Nonperishable donations for the Lake Villa Township Food Pantry will be collected from parade spectators. Food will be sold at the VFW after the parade. (847) 356-6100 or lake-villa.org.
St. Charles
Local Irish-American residents will join together to serve as the official grand marshal at the 17th Annual St. Charles St. Patrick's Parade at 2 p.m. Saturday. The parade steps off on Main Street, between Sixth Street and 4th Avenue. Decorated dogs are invited to walk in the parade. Prior to the parade, the Arcada Theatre, at 105 E. Main St., hosts a dance show at 10 a.m. featuring local dance troupes. For information, call (630) 443-3969 or visit downtownstcharles.org.
Parades: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day early this year