Get your Irish on: St. Patrick’s Day parades this weekend
Everyone’s a bit o’ Irish this time of year, and St. Patrick’s Day parades are aplenty across the suburbs.
Here are a few ways to show off your green and have some St. Patrick’s Day fun this weekend:
East Dundee
Grab your kilt and head to the DUbliNDEE Kilted 5K at 8 a.m. in East Dundee. The run starts and ends at Lifeline Plumbing Heating & Cooling at 296 Williams in East Dundee. Participants can enjoy a drink and breakfast after the run.
A pre-parade show starts at 9:30 a.m. at the East Dundee Depot. Pre-parade activities include a pet parade, the crowning of the king and queen and the national anthem. The Thom McNamee Memorial St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 11 a.m. and winds through the downtown district.
Visit dundeestpats.org for more information.
Elmhurst
Elmhurst’s annual parade steps off at noon at Wilson Street and Spring Road. More than 80 floats and other parade entries will march north and end one block south of the railroad, across from Silverado Grill.
The parade is the start of festivities throughout the day. Various merchants are participating in special activities.
For additional information, visit elmhurststpatsparade.com.
Naperville
Lace up those running shoes and start your day off with the 14th annual Sunrise Rotary Naperville St. Paddy’s Day 5K at 8 a.m. The race starts at Centennial Beach and there’s a $100 prize for best costume.
The 31st annual West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Day parade steps off at 10 a.m. at Naperville North High School, 899 N. Mill St. The parade will head south on Mill Street to Jefferson Avenue, then head east to Main Street, south on Main to Porter and Webster, before ending at Naperville Central High School, 440 Aurora Ave.
For more information, visit wsirish.org.
St. Charles
St. Patrick’s Day festivities in St. Charles start at 10 a.m. with the Shamrockin’ St. Charles 8K run/walk that begins and ends at Pottawatomie Park.
Then, head over to the 1st Street plaza at 11 a.m. for the opening ceremony featuring Irish dancers and other entertainment. The parade steps off at 2 p.m. at 6th and Main streets. The parade route continues through downtown on Main Street and ends at 4th Avenue.
Don’t forget to check out the photo station at Riverside Avenue and Illinois Street and hunt for the 20 hidden shamrocks in the downtown area for your chance at a pot of gold.
For details, visit stcstpatricksparade.com.