St. Patrick's Day 2019: Parades, 5Ks, Fireworks In Chicago Area

ILLINOIS — It may still be cold in Chicagoland, but some sure signs of spring are cropping up. The Cubs and the Sox are getting ready for their home openers, the first official day of spring is coming up on March 20 and the unofficial start of spring — St. Patrick's Day — is almost here.

While St. Paddy's lasts just one day, the Irish-themed fun is already starting in Chicagoland, and it will continue nearly all month long with parades, 5Ks, Irish fests and even fireworks. It's time for the wearin' o' the green and the dyeing of the Fox and Chicago rivers.

Whether you're Irish or just wish you were, here's where you can celebrate St. Patrick and enjoy live music, food, drinks and fun in Chicago and the suburbs.

Manhattan Irish Fest

• When: March 1 and 2
• Where: North of Manhattan Fire Station 81
• Hours: Fun starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, noon on Saturday
• Fun features: Heated tents, Irish music, parade with grand marshals and a king and queen, 5K, kids activities, craft fair, rugby, Irish Mass and more.
• Admission: All Irish Fest visitors are required to have a button; free for kids age 7 and younger, $10
• Details here

Oak Forest Fleadh

• When: March 2
• Where: On Cicero Avenue between 151st Street and 159th Street
• Hours: 5K at 8:30 a.m., parade at 11 a.m.
• Fun features: 5K, parade, bowling, bag pipes, raffles and more.
• Admission: Free, including the 5K
• Details here

Tinley Park Running O' the Green 8K Run/Walk

• When: 8 a.m. March 3
• Where: Tony Bettenhausen Rec Center, 8125 W. 171st St.
• Hours: Race-day registration is at 7 a.m.
• Admission: $30 on race day
• Fun features: Awards for first-, second- and third-place runners in male and female age categories
• Details here

Lemont St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival

• When: 1 p.m. March 9
• Where: Downtown Lemont
• Hours: 1 to 5 p.m.
• Fun features: St. Patrick’s Day parade queen, Chicago Stockyard Kilty Band, post- parade food, refreshments and fun at the VFW hall.
• Details here

Thom McNamee Memorial St. Patrick’s Day Parade and DUbliNDEE Kilted 5K

• When: March 9
• Where: Kilted 5K is at 296 Williams Place, East Dundee; parade is in Downtown East Dundee
• Hours: 8 a.m. Kilted 5K, 11:15 a.m. parade
• Admission: Race registration is $40 online
• Fun features: Parade king and queen, corned beef contest, pet parade, citizen of the year and more.
• Details here

Plainfield Hometown Irish Parade

• When: 1 p.m. March 10
• Where: Downtown Plainfield after stepping off from Plainfield High School - Central Campus, 24120 Fort Beggs Drive
• Admission: Free
• Fun features: Parade, family area with face painting, bounce houses for kids, vendors, food trucks, bagpipers, Irish dance groups and more.
• Details here

Downtown Tinley Irish Parade

• When: 1 p.m. March 10
• Where: Steps off from Central Middle School, 18146 Oak Park Ave., and makes its way through downtown Tinley
• Admission: Free
• Fun features: Led by Ireland’s Consul General Brian O’Brien, featuring floats, community groups, schools, businesses and more.
• Details here

New Lenox Flashlight Clover Hunt

• When: 7:15 p.m. for ages 3 to 5, 7:30 p.m. for ages 6 to 11, March 15
• Where: Nelson Prairie Park, 2366 Nelson Road
• Admission: Free
• Details here

Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade

• When: Noon March 16
• Where: The parade starts at Balbo and Columbus heading north; viewing stand is in front of Buckingham Fountain
• Fun features: The dyeing of the Chicago River green is at 9 a.m. (see it best from the east side of Michigan Avenue, west side of Columbus Drive or Upper and Lower Wacker between Michigan Avenue and Columbus), followed by the parade at noon; this year’s theme is the music of Ireland.
• Admission: Free
• Details here

Naperville St. Patrick’s Day Parade/St. Paddy’s Day 5K

• When: March 16
• Where: Parade kicks off from Naperville North High School, 899 N. Mill St., at 10 a.m., 5K starts at 8 a.m. at Jackson and West Street near Centennial Beach
• Admission: Free for the parade, $40 for adults/$25 for kids (ages 14 and younger) for the 5K
• Fun features: Parade floats, Irish dancers, bagpipers and more.
• 5K details here; parade details here

DUbliNDEE fireworks

• When: 7:30 p.m. March 16
• Where: Fox River Foot Bridge off of Water Street in East Dundee
• Admission: Free
• Fun features: Dundee Scottish bagpipes, drinks and food in local bars and restaurants
• Details here

Yorkville St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

• When: March 16
• Where: Downtown Yorkville
• Hours: 8 a.m. to midnight (5K is at 9 a.m., parade is at 11 a.m.)
• Admission: Free
• Fun features: Live bands, parade, Irish activities and more.
• Details here

McHenry ShamRocks The Fox

• When: March 16 and 17
• Where: Miller’s Point, 1204 N. Riverside Drive
• Admission: Free
• Fun features: See the Fox River dyed green, take part in the McHenry Shamrock Shuffle 5K, plus enjoy a beer tent, children’s activities, live music and more.
• Details here

South Side Irish Parade

• When: Noon March 17
• Where: Parade steps off at 103rd and Western and proceeds south down Western Avenue to 115th Street.
• Admission: Free
• Fun features: Irish music, games of chance, pipes and drums; plus, find out more about this year’s queen and grand marshal
• Details here