Your 2017 South Side Irish Parade Survival Guide

CHICAGO, IL -- The South Side Irish Parade is this weekend and we here at Patch have pulled together everything you need to know to make the most of the best parade in Chicago.

The Details

• When: The parade starts at noon on Sunday, March 12
• Where: Western Avenue in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood. The parade will begin at 103rd Street and will run all the way to 115th Street.

The Race

The 2017 Emerald Isle Mile, sponsored by Running Excels, begins at 11:30 a.m. March 12, just prior to the start of the South Side Irish Parade, starting at 104th and Western and finishing at 112th. The one-mile race is limited to 15 minutes.

Parking

There will be no street parking on the east side of Artesian from 103rd to 111th beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 3 p.m. No parking will be allowed on Western Avenue from 99th to 119th beginning at 6 a.m. Expect vehicle traffic to be restricted on side streets surrounding Western Avenue from approximately 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Also, expect portions of all side streets leading to Western Avenue between 103rd Street to 115th to be closed. If you are driving, wearing comfortable shoes because you’ll probably be doing some walking.

Zero-Tolerance

The parade had a two-year hiatus after rowdy crowds and heavy drinking put a damper on the one-time family event. When the parade returned it was with a strict no drinking policy. Police and private security personnel will be out in full force stopping anyone with alcohol. You will also be banned from having alcohol on the Rock Island Metra before the parade. If you’re caught with open alcohol, fines of up to $1,000 for open containers of alcohol may be imposed. Security checkpoints staffed by private security and the Chicago Police Department will be surrounding the parade route. Also, anyone who witnesses a crime or encounters drunk behavior during the parade should call 911.

Grand Marshal

Grand Marshal, Les Turner ALS Foundation, The nonprofit organization has been Chicago’s leader in research, patient care and education about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) for 40 years. The foundation is dedicated to the advance of scientific research into the causes, treatments and prevention of ALS; to provide people living with ALS, their families and caregivers exceptional clinical care and support services; and to increase awareness and education of ALS.

Marching with the Grand Marshal will be Beverly’s Meg Rooney and her family who have worked closely with Les Turner ALS Foundation to increase awareness and raise money to find a cure. Meg’s husband, John Rooney, succumbed to ALS in 2016 and John’s mother and aunt also died of the disease. John was a well-known and respected reporter during a 27-year career at the Chicago Daily Bulletin and earned several awards for his coverage of the 1982 Tylenol killings for the City News Bureau of Chicago.

Parade Honoree

Christmas Without Cancer, The nonprofit organization identifies Chicagoland families in need and provides gifts and basic necessities to families stricken with cancer. Since 2003, Christmas Without Cancer has identified and adopted multiple families battling cancer providing them with gift cards for groceries, medications, gas and assistance with rent, mortgage or tuition payments to help bring cheer during the Christmas season. Founded by Evergreen Park resident Gerri Neylon, a nurse in the radiation oncology department at Advocate Christ Medical Center who wanted to do something positive for some of the many families she served. Over the years Christmas Without Cancer has expanded their impact and now offers support to families facing cancer year-round and not just during the holiday season.

Parade Highlights

• 2017 South Side Irish Parade Queen, Shannon Zofkie
• 2016 Rose of Tralee, Maggie McEldowney
• Ireland's Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, Mary Mitchell O'Connor TD
• Irish Consul General, Brian O'Brien
• Parade Sponsors, CJ Wilson Mazda, AARP, Team Hochberg at PERL Mortgage, IUOE Local 150, AAA Evergreen Park Car Care and Raising Cane’s
• 13 bagpipe and marching bands
• 4 Irish dance schools
• The United States Air Force Honor Guard Marching Unit
• Vintage fire trucks
• Floats with live Irish music
• 10 local parishes, Irish family floats and numerous community organizations
• A six-foot tall Haribo Gummy Bear

Pro Tips

You will want to claim your spot on Western Avenue early before the parade steps off. Wear comfortable shoes because unless you live close to the parade route you'll likely be doing some walking. Green attire is a must.

After the Parade

While you are out and about it make it a point to stop in at a local business and give back to the merchants who support the event. You can buy a cup of fresh roasted coffee or a great dessert at Beverly Bakery or make a list of new stores that you want to stop back and visit. If the bar scene is for you, there are plenty of fine Irish taverns on the west side of the street to choose from. Just remember that you are in a neighborhood, not frat row.