Look for bagpipes, kazoos and the Armpit Orchestra at Elmhurst's St. Patrick's Day Parade

Elmhurst Armpit Orchestra drum major Scott LaMorte is dusting off his bass drum beaters and kazoo in anticipation of the 24th annual Elmhurst St. Patrick's Day Parade.

The orchestra presents its one and only performance of the year in the city's parade, which is set to step off at Wilson Street and Spring Road at noon Saturday, March 7.

"We're a community group of guys from the neighborhood. We're an all-male kazoo and paint bucket orchestra," said LaMorte, an Elmhurst resident. "We have a 9-foot bass drum. It's named Mary. So, Mary the drum comes on the parade route with us."

LaMorte said the armpit players got started as a way to help promote the parade when the economy took a dive.

"In 2009, coming out of the recession, the parade wasn't in the best financial shape, because times were tough," he said.

Looking for a common denominator in terms of performance potential and showmanship, a group of neighbors banded together.

"With very little talent of any kind, we figured out we could play kazoos. The idea was we would dress like suburban dads - dress goofy and play kazoos. It took off from there and became a full-fledged thing," he said. "The idea was essentially inspired by the Bill Murray movie, 'Stripes.'"

Each year, the orchestra extends an open invitation to Murray to join in, he said, although, "as of yet, he has not made it."

And every year the orchestra brings either awareness to or conducts a pass-the-hat fundraising drive for a charitable cause or community group.

This year, LaMorte said the EAO is supporting promotional efforts on behalf of the Elmhurst Historical Museum and its new exhibit about playgrounds, set to debut in April.

The 50-man marching unit has a repertoire of two whole songs: "When The Saints Go Marching In" and "The Colonel Bogey March," he said.

"We have a rule that no legitimate instruments are allowed in our orchestra," he said.

There are, however, "stump fiddle" players and cow bell ringers. And orchestra members carry a string of toilet paper notated with music as their official "sheet music."

"It's as ridiculous as it sounds," LaMorte said. "It's a riot, it really is."

The orchestra will be accompanied by more than 140 other marching units as the parade passes along a one-mile stretch of Spring Road, said Jim O'Connor, parade chairman.

O'Connor said representatives from the Roesch Auto Group will serve as grand marshals. The Medinah Shriners will have 10 units in the parade, he said. Also represented will be the city's police and fire departments, the York High School Marching Band, scouting groups, Irish dancers and the Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band, O'Connor said.

"The American Legion (THB Post 187) Color Guard always kicks off the parade. The parade does not start without them," O'Connor said.

He said roughly 100 Elmhurst College athletes, along with a Scout troop, have volunteered to assist with traffic control and cleanup.

O'Connor said the parade attracts 20,000 onlookers when the weather is pleasant.

"It's the happiest day in Elmhurst every year," he said.

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24th annual Elmhurst St. Patrick's Day Parade

When: Noon Saturday, March 7

Where: Steps off from Spring Road and Wilson Street

Info: elmhurststpatsparade.com