Palatine will ‘Paint the Town Green’ on Saturday, March 15th with the community’s fourth annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration which includes a parade, Irish market and festivities in various businesses throughout the town.
“We’ve planned a family-friendly day of activities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day,” said event coordinator, Liz Noe of ElizEvents. “We’ll have Irish food, drink, entertainment, shopping and we’ll be collecting items to support the homeless and near-homeless served by Journeys the Road Home. This is going to be a great day to be Irish or pretend to be Irish.”
The parade, which begins at 11:00 AM, will feature 50 entries including Grand Marshals Lucky McClover and Katie M’Lady. Irish music will be provided by the Midlothian Scottish Bag Pipe Band. The Trinity Irish Dancers, The Lucky Little Leprechauns of Dorset Avenue and The Palatine Paddy Wagons will also add to the entertainment.
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The parade will serve to collect donations for Journeys the Road Home, an organization serving the homeless and near-homeless in the north and northwest suburbs. During the parade marchers with shopping carts will collect food, clothing and disposable paper products for the organization. The parade begins at the corner of Wood and Oak Streets in downtown Palatine and continues west to Brockway and south to Wilson.
The festivities will begin with an Irish Market under a tent outside of Durty Nellie's located at 180 North Smith Street in downtown Palatine. The Market will run from 8:00 AM until 1:00 PM and feature 16 vendors who will be selling foods, treats, jewelry, Irish trinkets and more. Some of the vendors include Bonker’s Gifts, CristalMe Rhinestone Apparel, Cookie Cards and Bead World.
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The Irish Market will also provide musical entertainment. There will be a variety of music throughout the day with Merv Collins and his instrumental guitar music from 8:00 AM until 10:00 AM and Guyz with Bad Eyez performing a wide variety of music on their guitars from 10:30 AM until 11:45 AM. The final performance at the Irish Market will feature the Irish music of Dr. Gerry Alyward and Cuchulain from Noon until 1:00 PM.
“Entertainment is being planned at a number of local businesses, bars and restaurants throughout the day,” said Noe. “Some of the establishments that are participating are Durty Nellie’s, Emmett’s Ale House and Bauer’s Brauhaus. A full schedule of events is available on our web site at www.stpatspalatine.com. This festival is going to be a full day of fun for the whole family!”
Durty Nellie’s will be offering an Irish breakfast menu from 8:00 AM until 10:00 AM and continue with Irish food and drink specials as well as music throughout the day. Their tentative schedule starts at 12:30 PM with the Midlothian Bag Pipe Band then from 1:30 PM until 3:00 PM Kevin Flynn & The Avondale Ramblers followed by the Trinity Irish Dancers from 3:30 PM until 4:15 PM. Logical Fleadh takes the stage from 4:30 PM until 6:00 PM and The Fisticuffs play from 6:30 PM until 7:30 PM. The final performances of the evening starting at 9:30 PM until 11:30 PM will be Rodd Tuffcurls & The Bench Press followed by Modern Day Romeos from Midnight until 2:00 AM.
Emmett’s Ale House will be serving Kegs N Eggs from 9:00 AM until Noon as well as traditional Irish foods throughout the day. After the parade at 1:00 PM, Emmett’s will conduct a firkin tapping ceremony of Emmett’s Rafferty Red beer where a spigot is driven into a small wooden keg with a wooden mallet. Mayor Jim Schwantz will officiate at the tapping. Following the tapping, the Palatine Township Republican Organization will hold a meet and greet. Entertainment continues at 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM with a bagpipes performance in the main bar.
The ‘Paint the Town Green’ event continues to enhance Palatine’s position as a destination town for public festivals. The premier sponsor and presenter of the festival is Durty Nellie’s. The media sponsor is the Daily Herald Media Group. Other sponsors include Lavelle Law, Lake Shore Beverage, Emmett’s Brewing Company, Law Office of Mark J. Matychowicz and Chicagoland 4 Braces, Dr. Gerry Aylward Orthodontics. Assistance has also been provided by Borne2Dance and Bauer’s Brauhaus.
For more information on the St. Patrick’s Day celebration, visit www.stpatspalatine.com or email info@stpatspalatine.com.
