Parade Off, Bagpipers To Serenade St. Charles For St. Pat’s Day

ST. CHARLES, IL — The coronavirus pandemic has forced officials to cancel the 2021 St. Patrick’s Day parade in St. Charles, but a group of bagpipers is set to save the day.

The St. Charles Business Alliance is hosting its annual celebration Saturday, with bagpipers set to roam throughout the city’s downtown between noon and 3 p.m., filling the air with the parade’s traditional soundtrack.

The St. Patrick’s Day celebration will also feature a treasure hunt, in which families can search for leprechauns in St. Charles businesses, according to a news release. Families who find the leprechauns will have a chance to win a “Pot of Gold” with prizes from various businesses, the release states.

A “Lucky Photo Station” will be on display from Saturday morning through St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 on Riverside Avenue near Illinois Street, according to the release.

Dozens of St. Charles restaurants are set to offer St. Patrick’s Day-themed specials over the coming week. La Mesa Modern Mexican is serving up its famous corned beef tacos, while Smallcakes Cupcakery will be offering special treats and free frosting shots, the release states.

Click here for a full list of participating restaurants and more information about the St. Charles Business Alliance's St. Patrick's Day celebration.

Darlene Riebe, a longtime member of the St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, said officials worked to create “lots of innovative ways for our residents to still enjoy a St. Patrick’s Day celebration in our downtown” despite the parade being cancelled due to safety concerns amid the pandemic.

“We hope to bring the biggest and best parade back next year,” Riebe said in the release.

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