Plainfield Hometown Irish Parade Will Fall On St. Paddy's Day In 2024

PLAINFIELD, IL — The Hometown Irish Parade is on the horizon in Plainfield, and this year, the beloved community event will fall directly on St. Patrick's Day.

The Village Preservation Association is gearing up to host the event that brings a parade, bagpipers, Irish dancers, musical groups and acrobats to downtown Plainfield. Plus, the cherished bike-decorating contest for kids will make a comeback this spring.

"There's a bit of something for everyone in the plans," Susie Carlman, one of the organizers, wrote to Patch in an email.

Step off for the parade, which has been making a comeback almost every year — it took a hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 — since 2002, is set for 1 p.m. March 17. The procession is expected to last an hour and a half, starting at Plainfield Central High School and making its way through the downtown area.

The St. Patrick's Day celebration first began when a group of neighbors on Plainfield's east side decorated a few floats, loaded their children onto them and traversed the block. Within a couple of years, the parade flourished into a village tradition.

Carlman said this year's grand marshal and parade princess will be announced in the coming weeks.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article said the parade steps off at Plainfield North High School. It will begin at Plainfield Central High School. Patch apologizes for the error.