Plenty Of Ways To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Around Mokena

MOKENA, IL — St. Patrick’s Day is on a Friday this year. Entertainment districts in and around Mokena will be swimming in Kelly green, and perhaps flashing red and blue lights if people don’t behave themselves.

And devout Catholics may have to consult their parish priest before they dig into a plate of corned beef and cabbage.

Some of the places near Mokena to celebrate the March 17 holiday are:

The Mokena VFW will be hosting a corned beef dinner from 4-10 p.m. on Friday. The dinner includes corned beef, cabbage, and all the trimmings for $14, and dine-in and carryout will be available. The VFW will also sell beer for the event, which will be held at 19852 Wolf Rd. in Mokena.

Accelerate Indoor Speedway in Mokena will also be getting in on the fun with a day of go-kart racing that offers local residents the chance to Catch The Leprechaun for the chance to win prizes. The racing fun will take place at 8580 Springlake Drive in Mokena.

Tommy T’s Tavern in Orland Park will offer three days of St. Patrick’s Day specials and will also offer live music to celebrate the holiday weekend. St. Paddy’s Day specials include corned beef sandwiches and dinners, Reuben egg rolls, and Irish coffee along with other drink specials. The tavern is located at 9400 W. 143rd St.

While there will be plenty of ways to celebrate, Mokena Police will be cracking down on impaired drivers throughout the weekend, Police Chief Brian Benton said. Although the department will not conduct any specific enforcement details like other municipalities, Benton said officers will be looking for drivers operating vehicles under the influence.

Devout Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, a sacrifice that recognizes Jesus’ death on the cross on a Friday. Catholics in several suburban Chicago towns can eat the traditional fare without guilt, but the Archdiocese of Chicago is holding firm.

Whether revelers in cities like heavily Catholic Chicago, one of the most St. Patrick-y cities in the country, go all in with the holiday staple corned beef and cabbage could come down to whether they get special dispensation from the diocese.

In Joliet, church leaders have allowed for a special dispensation for local Catholics which allows them to partake in eating corned beef on Friday. In exchange for eating meat, church leaders are encouraging parishioners from Mokena and surrounding communities to do an act of charity or goodwill as the church makes a one-time exception for Lenten traditions.

There are several Lenten fish fries going on for Catholics who want to play it by the rules. In the Southland region, there are several good spots to choose from.