South Side Irish Parade Highlights Pediatric Cancer Groups, 100 Club

Photo by Mary Compton

Excitement is building for the South Side Irish Parade that will step off at noon this Sunday, March 13.

The 2016 edition features 14 bagpipe and marching bands, four Irish dance schools, vintage fire trucks, floats with live Irish music, the Windy City Ghostbusters and Star Wars 501st Legion, along with ten area parishes, Irish family floats and numerous community organizations. This being before the Illinois Presidential Primary, you may also see a politician or two.

Reigning over the parade will be the 2016 South Side Irish Queen, Evergreen Park resident Alison Kelly. Joining Kelly is the 2015 Chicago Rose of Tralee Maeve McSweeney; Consulate General of Ireland Vice Counsel Nicholas Michael; the IHSA State Champions Marist High School Girls Softball team; and CJ Wilson Mazda Zoom Zoom Nation and BMW Motorcycles of Countryside.

The planned parade route will step off from 103rd Street and Western Avenue, and proceed south to 115th Street. Parking restrictions will be in place on parade day.

This year’s grand marshall is South Siders Fighting Childhood Cancer, comprised of local pediatric cancer organizations in memory of children in the Beverly, Mt. Greenwood and Morgan Park neighborhoods who’ve lost their lives to cancer.

The group South Siders Fighting Childhood Cancer is comprised of Live Like John, Emily Beazley’s Kures for Kids, Pat Mac’s Pack, Maeve McNicholas Memorial Foundation and Cameron’s Crusaders.

The South Side Irish Parade is also shining a light on The 100 Club of Chicago, celebrating 50 years of helping to ease the financial burden of first responders’ families that have lost a loved one in the line of duty. The 100 Club of Chicago provides immediate financial assistance as well as the ongoing cost of higher education.

Since the South Side Irish Parade was re-introduced in 2012, the family-friendly promenade down Western Avenue has returned to its roots as neighborhood celebration of Irish heritage and culture. The volunteer committee works with the City of Chicago, local community organizations, schools and neighbors to present a family friendly annual march down Western Avenue.