Celebrate St. Patrick's Day at Naperville parade

Naperville will go green this weekend - very green - as members of the West Suburban Irish hold their 16th annual St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown.

Organizers say it will be the biggest in the history of the event and open to residents of any town, whether they're authentically Irish or just want to pretend for a day.

The parade steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 14, from Naperville North High School, 899 N. Mill St. From there it will head south on Mill, east on Jefferson Avenue, south on Main Street and west on Water Street.

Nearly 110 units will participate. Politicians, businesses, public safety officers, nonprofit groups and homeowners associations all have signed up to take part, along with entertainers such as the bagpipe band Tunes of Glory from Warrenville.

Near the end of the route, entries will be judged for categories such as most colorful, most Irish and best band.

"Other parades are bigger and more perfect but we are a little more colorful, with all the people putting on their green and best Irish look," founder Kevin Dolan said.

Dolan says while the event is taking place in Naperville, participants and spectators alike come from around the suburbs. He estimates more than 8,000 people lined the route last year, and stressed it is a family event - no alcohol is allowed during the parade.

"A lot of Irish families are happy to be part of it," he said. "As Irish, they're proud to celebrate their Irishness, and that's how we do it with a sane, sensible, sober parade."

New state Rep. Michael Connelly, a Lisle Republican, will serve as honorary grand marshal. Before his election to the state legislature he served as a DuPage County Board member and a Lisle village trustee.

"He's been a member of the West Suburban Irish for quite a few years, is a good friend of mine, is newly elected and has a lovely Irish family," Dolan said. "That's the kind of people we want as grand marshals."

The Parade Queen this year is Bridget Deely, a junior at Naperville North. She will be joined on the court by Chelsea Malley, a junior at Benet Academy, and Betsy Kelly, a senior at Waubonsie Valley High School. All three trace their roots to Ireland.

If you go

What: West Suburban Irish St. Patrick's Day parade

When: 10 a.m. Saturday, March 14

Where: Beginning at Naperville North High School, 899 N. Mill St. The parade will head south on Mill, east on Jefferson Avenue, south on Main Street and west on Water Street to the municipal center.

Info: (630) 375-7725 or wsirish.org