Oak Forest Rotary Club To Lead 14th Annual Fleadh Parade

OAK FOREST, IL — The City of Oak Forest has announced the grand marshal for its 14th annual Fleadh parade, slated to follow a 5K and kick off festivities Saturday, March 4.

The family parade will step off from 151st and Central Avenue at 11 a.m. and head south to the Oak Forest Park District. The Rotary is "an organization comprised of local professionals, civic leaders, and individuals aimed at bettering the community through service."

The group’s signature project is the Food4Kids Backpack program, which provides healthy snacks to local schoolchildren every Friday to ensure they have enough nourishment throughout the weekend when school lunch programs are not available to them. The club also works with Oak Forest High School’s Interact Club, which encourages students to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of service. In addition, the group organizes community blood drives, provides scholarships and awards to local students, and hosts an annual youth talent showcase and free pancake breakfast.

The parade splashes green across Central Avenue, the official start to the day's events.

“We hope everyone comes out in their best St. Patrick’s Day attire to enjoy this Oak Forest tradition that celebrates fitness, family and fun like only the Irish know how to do,” said Oak Forest-Crestwood Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kim Malecky-Iles. “After the parade, continue to ‘Fleadh Around Town’ by visiting our local bars and restaurants.”

With a start time of 8:30 a.m., the 5K race starts and finishes at 153rd and Lacrosse, steps away from Oak Forest Bowl, the pre-and post-race host. More than 400 participants are expected to run or walk the 3.1-mile course in the city’s 3rd and 5th Wards. The city will close several neighborhood streets shortly before the start of the race. The closures will be in effect for approximately one hour. For a map or to register for the race, visit www.oak-forest.org.

“Our members find joy in serving as a resource for the community because it instills a sense of camaraderie, purpose, and fulfillment in each one of us,” said Oak Forest Rotary President Hurley Wilbourne. “We are honored to walk alongside so many terrific Oak Forest organizations and businesses in this year’s parade. It’s going to be a fun way to connect with our members and introduce our club to the community.”

For event details, including sponsorship opportunities, race and parade registration, and street closures, please call 708-687-4600, e-mail kim@oc-chamber.org, visit www.oak-forest.org, or follow us @oakforestfleadh on Facebook and Instagram.