Get a Taste of Ireland At St. Pat's Day Irish Market

On Saturday, March 17 in parking lot at 180 N. Smith Street in downtown Palatine participants will have the opportunity to get a taste of Ireland and more at the festival’s Irish Market.

“We will be giving the community a chance to see some of Ireland at our Irish Market,” said event coordinator, Liz Noe of ElizEvents. “From 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. a tented area in parking lot will become a little piece of Ireland and provide tasty treats, shopping opportunities and live entertainment.”

“Paint the Town Green’s” Irish Market will feature 18 vendors.

will be selling Celtic jewelry, Gigi Hill Purses will have a variety of purses for sale and, for the Irish at heart, Blooms of Palatine will have green carnations for sale. McNulty Irish Dancers will have information on learning Irish dance. For those who would like to visit Ireland, will be able to show you tour packages and help you book your trip.

To satisfy the taste buds, Cookie Cards will be selling cookies and cupcakes. For those with a craving for chocolate, will be selling a variety of chocolate treats. Once you have eaten, Health Source Plus will be providing health checkups and chair massages. The Journal & Topics, Dr. Gerry Aylward Chicagoland 4 Braces, Palatine’s ChamberNet and Countryside will all be present with promotional booths.

There are a number of new additions to the Irish Market this year. will be selling wine items, Long Grove’s Paddy’s on the Square will have Irish wares and Personal Accent Jewelry will be tempting shoppers with their jewelry. Arbonne will showcase their Swiss skin care products. The children who attend will be able to taste popcorn and other treats sold by Signature Sweets.

To entertain the children, immediately after the parade, leprechaun Lucky McClover and Princess Katie M'Lady will take time from their visits around town to stop by the Irish Market. All throughout the morning, Safari Childcare will have activities for children of all ages. “They will have games, crafts and give-a-ways at the booth to help keep the children entertained,” said Noe.

The Irish Market will also provide musical entertainment. In addition to Irish favorites, there will also be a variety of music throughout the day with Merv Collins and his instrumental guitar music at 9 a.m. and Guyz with Bad Eyez performing a wide variety of music on their guitars for two hours starting at 10 a.m. To complete the music at the Market from Noon until 1 p.m. will be the Irish music from the duo of Dr. Gerry Aylward and Dave Kunzweiler.

will be made possible through the time and financial support of a number of local companies. The top sponsors are Durty Nellie's, Journal & Topics Newspaper, ElizEvents, Budweiser, Dr. Gerry Aylward and Associates and Northrop Grumman. For more information on Paint the Town Green and the day’s events, please visit www.stpatspalatine.com or email info@stpatspalatine.com.