St. Patrick’s Day Parade honoring Thom McNamee is celebrating its 10th anniversary
The Thom McNamee Memorial Dundee St. Patrick's Day Parade will be marking its 10th year on Saturday, March 9. The annual parade bears the name of its founder, Thom McNamee, who planned the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in East Dundee in 2006.
Though he passed away in 2009, McNamee’s legacy lives on with joy and community through the past 10 years, building a St. Patrick's Day memorial parade.
The parade will feature music, bag pipes, dancers, stilt walkers, a pet parade, king and queen scholarship and more. It will step off at 11 a.m.
The lineup of entertainment includes: Jesse White Tumbling Team, Dundee Scottish Pipe Band, Those Funny Little People, Chicago Celtic Pipe Band, Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, Flat 43 BMX Bikers, Mayer School of Irish Dance, and Culture Arts & Music Steelband.
There also will be grandstand shows in the morning, a pet parade, King & Queen, and more.
More volunteers are needed. For information, go to dundeestpats.org or facebook.com/ThomMcNameeParade.
DUbliNDEE Kilted 5K
Sign up for the DUbliNDEE Kilted 5K, a USATF-certified race. Held on the morning of the parade, this timed, themed 5K starts and finishes at the Lifeline Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, the race sponsor.
The fundraising efforts directly impact the important mission of the FISH Food Pantry that serves families in the community and the Friends of the Fox River. Most participants show their Irish spirit while running or walking.
The first 400 registrations receive a kilt with logo, pint glass, and gift bag with breakfast, and a drink afterward.
The Kilted 5K will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 9. Bandito Barney’s is hosting the breakfast after the Kilted 5K. It was a founding DUbliNDEE sponsor since the very first parade established by Thom McNamee in 2006.
Entry fees are $50 before March 1, $55 before March 6, or $60 on or after Monday, March 6. The fee for age 6 to 17 is $25 or free for age 5 or younger.
Packets for preregistered runners will be available for pickup on Friday, March 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lifeline Plumbing, 296 Williams Place, East Dundee.
Sign up via runsignup.com/Race/IL/EastDundee/Kilted5K.
Pet parade
The Dundee Animal Hospital is hosting “Parade Your Pet” at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 9, at the Depot, 319 N. River St. in East Dundee. Your pets can strut their St. Paddy's stuff and have a chance to win some prizes (and a chance to walk in the Dundee St. Pat's parade at 11 a.m.).
All pets must be preregistered by Wednesday, March 6. Fill out the entry form via tinyurl.com/dundeestpatspet and send your completed form to Dundeestpatspets@gmail.com.
All dogs must be leashed at all times and have proof of required city and state vaccination records to participate.
Fireworks
Once again, the annual fireworks show will be moved into later in the spring. The James McCulla Jr. Memorial Fireworks will be at dusk on Friday, May 24, over the footbridge on the Fox River.