Deadlines approach for Palatine's 'Paint the Town Green' celebration

The organizers of the 10th annual "Paint the Town Green" St. Patrick's Day celebration are accepting entrants until Jan. 31, as well as sponsors until Feb. 3, for the Saturday, March 14, parade, Irish market and scavenger hunt, which will be held in downtown Palatine.

Applications for sponsors, as well as entry in the parade, Irish market and scavenger hunt, are available at stpatspalatine.com. A limited number of openings are available for the Irish market on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants for the scavenger hunt will be accepted online at stpatspalatine.com until March 9 and on the day of the event at the Irish market.

"The scavenger hunt has added an exciting, new twist to the festivities," said Liz Noe. "Teams will be able to register to take pictures and answer questions from provided clues at hunt sponsors at locations throughout the Palatine area.

"Teams can pick up the clues and download the app at the Irish market and then begin the hunt. Teams will have until midnight on Tuesday, March 17, to submit their answers for judging. The winning team will receive a package filled with merchant goodies and a cash prize."

The festivities will begin with an Irish market under a tent outside of Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., in downtown Palatine, and run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The parade, which begins at 11 a.m., as well as the Irish market, will serve to collect food, clothing and donations for Journeys the Road Home, an organization serving the homeless and near-homeless in the North and Northwest suburbs. The parade begins at the corner of Wood and Oak streets in downtown Palatine, and continues west on Wood to Brockway and north to Colfax.

The "Paint the Town Green" event continues to enhance Palatine's position as a destination town for public festivals. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available for interested area businesses. Many levels of sponsorship include advertising to 22,000 recipients of the Daily Herald in a special "Paint the Town Green" insert. Details are available at stpatspalatine.com.

Sponsorships run from $100 to $1,000 and will be accepted through Feb. 8. The premier sponsor and presenter of the festival is Durty Nellie's. The media sponsor is the Daily Herald Media Group. Other sponsors include AP ltd., Danico Enterprises and ElizEvents, Inc.

"Entertainment is being planned at a number of local businesses, bars and restaurants throughout the day," said Noe. "A full schedule of events will be released in early February. This event is a great way for the public to get to know our local merchants."

For information on the St. Patrick's Day celebration, visit stpatspalatine.com, email info@stpatspalatine.com, or write to Paint the Town Green, 245 N. Elmwood Ave., Palatine, IL 60074.