St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner. It’s a harbinger of spring and a chance for everyone to celebrate being a little bit Irish.
An event making a return in 2022 is the Tinley Irish Parade. It’s the 21st year for the event, said Donna Framke, marketing director with the Village of Tinley Park.
The parade will be at 1 p.m. March 6, kicking off at Central Middle School and continuing down Oak Park Avenue, she said. The best viewing areas are 179th Street to 172nd Street, she said.
“The way the calendar falls this year, we’re a little bit early because we don’t compete with the South Side Irish parade,” she said.
Speaking of the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day parade — touted as the largest community-based parade on St. Patrick’s Day outside of Ireland — it will be at noon March 13 at 103rd Street and Western Avenue, marching south to 115th and Western. The parade lasts about two hours and features Irish dance schools, bagpipers and marching bands, floats, community groups and a celebration of the South Side’s Irish culture and heritage.
Tinley Park’s parade usually has 75 to 80 participants; including marching bands, dance groups, businesses and community groups. A popular attraction in any Irish parade is a traditional pipe and drum band and they’ve got three of them this year, Framke said.
The parade always attracts a crowd with the fun vibe and great setting, she said.
“It can be weather-contingent. Even in the coldest weather we’ve had — we’ve had a couple of years where we had to move snow off Oak Park Avenue — even on those cold, cold days we have a great group that comes out. But on those nice weather days, we can have 15,000 people out there easily. There’s a lot of green a lot of shamrocks and a lot of dancing around and having a good time.”
There will even be vendors selling green beads and other themed trinkets, she said.
“Definitely everybody’s getting their Irish on that day,” she said. “It’s a nice kickoff to the spring season and definitely a fun way to celebrate the Irish holiday — what do they say, everybody’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.”
Here are five events to celebrate:
1. Manhattan Irish Fest: 5-10 p.m. March 4 and 12-10 p.m. March 5 in downtown Manhattan. Entertainment tent tickets, $10 in advance/$15 at the door. 5K race, $35-$45. manhattanirishfest.com.
The entertainment tent at Manhattan’s Irish Fest will be hopping with Irish dancers and Irish music for two days. Admission requires a button. A 5K race kicks off the traditional parade at 11 a.m. and includes a free beer at the after-party for the finishers.
Other events include a craft fair, rugby, Irish mass and children’s activities.
2. Oak Forest Fleadh: 8 a.m.-noon March 5 at 15240 S. Cicero Ave. Race tickets, $25-$30. 708-687-4600; oc-chamber.org.
The 13th annual Oak Forest Fleadh (Gaelic for “festival”) begins with a 5K. The new course will take runners and walkers through many neighborhoods in Oak Forest. A family parade will step off at 11 a.m. at 151st and Central Avenue heading south to Acorn Library.
A lucky golden ticket worth $1,000 will be hidden along the parade route. There will be kid-friendly activities before the parade. Stop in the local bars and restaurants after the parade for Irish music and food and drink specials.
3. Tinley Irish Parade: 1 p.m. March 6 along Oak Park Avenue, 183rd to 171st streets, Tinley Park. Admission is free. 708-444-5000; tinleypark.org.
The family-friendly parade will step off at 1 p.m. and proceeds along Oak Park Avenue. It features floats, community groups, local schools and businesses. Lineup begins at 11:30 a.m. at Central Middle School.
Before the parade, you can pop in for an Irish Tea at 11:30 a.m. March 5 at the Vogt Visual Arts Center, 17420 S. 67th Court, Tinley Park. Admission is free. 708-614-6503; tinleyparkdistrict.org.
There will be St. Patrick’s Day decorations, music and traditional Irish goodies like scones, soda bread and an assortment of teas.
Ambitious folks will want to register for the Running o’ the Green 8K at 8 a.m. March 6.
4. St. Paw-trick’s Day: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. March 12 at Lower Rock Run Preserve – McClintock Road Access, 22827 W. McClintock Road, Channahon. Admission is free. 815-727-8700; reconnectwithnature.org.
Celebrate the luck of the Irish with your four-legged friend. The Forest Preserve District of Will County will host a St. Patrick’s Day-themed party with our favorite furry friends. Bring your dog in their best green attire, take pictures and make new friends at the dog park. Register by March 10. A 2022 dog park permit is required for all dogs attending the event. Permits will be available for purchase.
5. A Shamrockin’ Good Time: 7:30 p.m. March 18 at the Rialto Square Theatre, 102 E. Chicago St., Joliet. Tickets, $15-$25. 815-726-6600; rialtosquare.com.
Tim Placher and an ensemble of local musicians take to the Rialto Square Theatre stage in “A Shamrockin’ Good Time.”
The event celebrates St. Patrick’s Day and will include the best in both traditional and contemporary Irish music with 30 musicians and singers, Irish dancers, pipers, a youth choir and more. Along with spotlighting local talent, this show will also benefit the Rialto Square Theatre Foundation.
As part of the event, the Rialto Square Theatre Foundation will offer raffles, a whiskey tasting, Irish food courtesy of Harrah’s Joliet and Irish-themed entertainment in the rotunda. Doors open at 6 p.m. For an additional $25, you can upgrade to an exclusive whiskey tasting that includes seven samples and a souvenir glass.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
