St. Charles, Area St. Patrick's Day Guide 2020: Parades, Events

ST. CHARLES, IL — St. Patrick's Day is quickly approaching, and St. Charles and surrounding Kane County towns have no shortage of events to celebrate the Irish holiday. This year, the holiday — celebrated every year on March 17 — falls on a Tuesday. To commemorate the day, the month of March will be filled with several events across the area.

If you are looking to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, check out the list of upcoming events below.

If you know of a parade or event that's not on the list, please feel free to tell us in the comment section below, or email rebecca.bream@patch.com.

Parades:

St. Charles St. Patrick's Day Parade: Begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14 on Main Street and 6th Street, then continues down Main Street and ends at 4th Avenue. >> Parade entry waiting list; volunteer application

Events:

ShamRock & Roll: 5 p.m. Friday, March 13 at Batavia Eastside Community Center, 14 N. Van Buren Street, benefiting Batavia RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) bataviarsvp.org. Enjoy corned beef and cabbage dinner, raffles, games and more. Tickets are $45.

The Ragged Rascals: St. Paddy's Preview — 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7 at the Baker Community Center, part of Saturday Night Lights concert series at the Baker Community Center, 101 S. 2nd Street in St. Charles. The Ragged Rascals are one of the Chicago area’s most popular and longest-established Irish pub bands, performing authentic Irish folk songs, street ballads, rebel and drinking songs, sea shanties and other traditional music in the style of the Clancy Brothers, the Dubliners, the Chieftans and the Irish Rovers. Each ticket holder will receive two coupons for complimentary drinks (including wine and beer) upon arrival at the Baker Community Center. Visit NorrisCulturalArts.com for information and a link to online ticketing.

St. Charles St. Patrick's Day Weekend at downtown establishments: Events, specials and discounts going on at several downtown spots.

St. Patrick's Day Buffet and Party: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 14 at the Oscar Swan Country Inn at 1800 West State Street in Geneva. Food is $19 per person and alcoholic beverages cost extra.

The American celebration of St. Patrick's Day started as a minor religious holiday in 1631, according to National Geographic. The church declared it a feast day, and over time the day became growingly associated with Irish-American tradition.

The annual holiday is celebrated on March 17 as it is the traditional death date of Saint Patrick.
The color green didn't become connected with the day until the Irish Rebellion of 1798 — when Irish soldiers chose to wear green — since it was the color that most contrasted with the red British uniforms.

To read more about the history of the holiday and who St. Patrick was, visit National Geographic.