Plainfield Irish Parade To Go On 'Rain Or Shine:' Parade Planners

PLAINFIELD, IL — The 18th annual Plainfield Irish Parade is scheduled this year for Sunday, March 15. The parade will step off from Plainfield High School-Central Campus at 24120 W Fort Beggs Drive and head north. Its route makes a wide loop through the downtown business area. Organizers said the parade will go on 'rain or shine' and will feature additional entertainment besides the parade itself.

"We know we'll have bagpipers, we hope to have three or four groups; Irish dancers," Debbie Olsen, who has been helping organize the parade since its inception, said. "We have a real interesting 'wheel performer,' he works on one of those big gyrating wheels where he's inside and he's doing tricks... [plus] a few musical groups, a few church groups."

The parade began as a simple one-block community affair and grew from there. Olsen, who took part in the first parade 18 years ago, said the event was more generally about celebrating springtime than it was a recognition of any connection to Ireland that Plainfielders may have. Indeed, only about 7% of Plainfield residents report any amount of Irish ancestry, according to data aggregate website City Data.

"It's just a celebration thing, I think. I don't think we have any special [Irish] ethnic leaning," Olsen said.

As of Feb. 6, Olsen said there were about 25 groups signed up to walk in the parade, with more requests still being processed. As with previous years, Olsen said she predicted the parade to eventually reach its capacity of about 75 participant groups.

"We usually meet our limit, which is 75 units," she said.

But while attracting participants may not be difficult, Olsen said, attracting sponsors for the parade can be. None of the parade is paid for with public funds, meaning that how much parade organizers can afford to organize is dependent on the generosity of private groups and individuals. Some institutions around Plainfield, like James Flanagan Law, Window World and Heartland Bank & Trust, have already signed on. Olsen said she hoped others would, soon.

"It's the money... we can't commit to some of our acts until we know that we have enough money," she said. "So we try to keep on improving on our entertainment but we have to be sure we've raised enough money to do that."

Those wanting to give money to the parade without becoming 'sponsors' can also sign up to become a 'Friend of the Parade.'

"It's a $20 sponsorship that anybody... can do in memoriam of somebody, or on behalf of somebody, and it'll be on our website," Olsen said.

The Plainfield Irish Parade begins at 1 p.m. on March 15. To donate, become a parade sponsor or learn more about parade activities, visit the Plainfield Hometown Irish Parade website or call the head Plainfield Irish Parade Administrator at (815) 255-6851‬.