No One Arrested At South Side Irish Parade For 8th Year In A Row

CHICAGO - It has now been a full decade since anyone has been arrested at the South Side Irish Parade. Granted, the parade was not held in its traditional form for two of those years but attendees have been on their best behavior for the eight that it has.

Parade organizers confirmed Sunday that no one was arrested in connection with this year's parade and that no incidents were reported along the parade route either. It's the eighth consecutive year without any arrests at the parade.

That's in sharp contrast to what was reported at St. Patrick's Day weekend celebrations downtown and on the North Side. A Crime in Wrigleyville and Boystown report estimates that more than 20 people were arrested Saturday in "St. Patrick's revelry" in Wrigleyville and Boystown and that at least 10 were arrested in connection with the downtown parade that same day.

Also, CWB called those numbers "conservative" estimates based on scanner traffic that day.

Back on the South Side, parade committee members are thrilled with Sunday's parade, which recognized Honor Flight Chicago as its Grand Marshal and Choose Kind as honoree.

“I am incredibly proud of everyone in our community that comes together year after year to make this parade happen,” said Greg Kovak, co-chair of the South Side Irish Parade Committee. “From our committee and volunteers to everyone lining the parade route, thank you for helping us celebrate family, community and Irish heritage.”

Parade committee members also estimated that about 200,000 people attended this year's parade, which went off under sunny skies and comfortably cool temperatures. SEE PHOTOS FROM THIS YEAR'S SOUTH SIDE IRISH PARADE