Floats, dancers, wonder! Channel the kid in you (or impress those kids of your own) at one of these Chicago march-worthy events. Beer is readily available nearby, so do check out our tippling tips.
51st Annual St. Patrick's Downtown Day Parade
Route: Columbus from Balbo to Monroe
Time: noon
This grand-old-time of an event comes complete with 50 floats, 2,000 Irish step dancers and plenty of Clydesdale horses, and followed by a long day of partying at many downtown bars and clubs (see below). Start the day even earlier by arriving at the Michigan Avenue or Columbus Bridge at 10:45 a.m. to watch as the river turns green.
Tippling Tips:
Hop on a bus run by the Abbey Pub at 9 a.m. to head to the parade, then back to the Abbey for an authentic Irish celebration, complete with Irish dancers, the bands Mulligan Stew and Sinclair & The Rovers and Irish dancers...goes until the wee hours.
Poag Mahone's will alter its usual Monday thru Friday schedule to open its doors to St. Patrick's Day Parade goers on Saturday, March 11. The Irish ale house will open at 11 a.m., serving gold standard pints of Guinness and its "best burgers in America" (or so says Oprah Winfrey). The Shannon Rovers Irish bagpipe band will pay at 2 p.m.
The parade will run right in front of Fado Irish Pub, and there will be plenty of party going on inside, too, with music starting at noon. You'll hear Nappertandy, The Shannon Rovers and C4.
South Side St. Patrick's Day Parade
Route: Western Avenue, from 103rd to 115th Streets
Time: noon
The official site proclaims "Cead Mile Failte," which we're guessing is Gaelic for the "one hundred thousand welcomes" subheading. The the parade isn't packed with 100,000 Irishmen...it's more like 250,000 spectators, plus the 15,000 or so marchers, making this much-touted parade a big ol' celebration.
Tippling tips:
Northsiders should get onboard with Rock Bottom Brewery. For just $40, you can kick off Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast, beer and bloody marys. A luxury coach bus (complete with beer and the all-important bathrooms) leaves at 9 a.m. sharp to head to the South Side parade. The bus truck back at 4 p.m., at which time taking a cab home from the brewery is probably a good idea.
Centerstage Will Feed You
