Overview: This is the older parade of Chicago's two St. Patrick's Day parade celebrations. This parade was formerly the South Side (Southtown) Parade, and it was held on 79th Street. It moved to downtown Chicago in 1960.
Inspired by the memory of the Southtown Parade, two South Side friends created the South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1979. That annual parade continues and will take place this year on Sunday, March 9, 2008.
Inspired by the memory of the Southtown Parade, two South Side friends created the South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1979. That annual parade continues and will take place this year on Sunday, March 9, 2008.
When: Saturday, March 15, 2008. (According to parade officials, it will never be cancelled. The parade will go on in any kind of weather.)
Time: Dyeing of the Chicago River at 10:45 a.m. followed by the parade start at 12 Noon
Time: Dyeing of the Chicago River at 10:45 a.m. followed by the parade start at 12 Noon
Parade Beginning Point: Intersection of S. Columbus and E. Balbo Drives. It then heads North.
Map It
Map It
Number of Years this Parade has been Running: 53
2008 Parade Queen: Eileen Kapolnek. She was chosen from 115 contestants by "prominent Chicagoans of Irish heritage who consider(ed) qualities such as grace, sincerity, beauty, poise, personality and wit when voting."
The Parade on TV: The parade will be televised nationally on WGN. Locals can watch it on WGN Channel 9 or WLS/ABC 7.
How to Be in the Parade: Contact the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee of Chicago
1340 W. Washington Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (312) 942-9188 or (312) 421-1010
1340 W. Washington Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (312) 942-9188 or (312) 421-1010
Tips : I asked my friends who are hard-core attendees to this parade for tips on attending, here's what they advised:
- Dress warm and in layers, so you can peel off or add on as the weather fluctuates.
- Bring food, because the parade is about three hours long if you watch all of it.
- Choose which side of the street you want to be on for the duration because you can't cross during the parade.
- It's crowded out there, so there are always people in front of us, but people are pretty nice about letting the kids get to the front.
- The crowds thin out after the first hour or so.
