Fleadh Fun Returns to Cicero Avenue Saturday

The Oak Forest-Crestwood Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Oak Forest will host the 7th Annual Oak Forest Fleadh (pronounced “flah”) on Saturday, March 5 on Cicero Avenue between 151st and 159th streets. The Fleadh—Gaelic for “festival”—includes the CNB Oak Forest Fleadh 5K, an open streets event, a family parade, and a pub and restaurant open house.

The city will close Cicero Avenue from 151st to 159th streets at 8 a.m. to prepare for the CNB Oak Forest Fleadh 5K at8:30 a.m. The race starts and finishes at 159th and Cicero Avenue and takes runners through the city’s 3rd Ward. More than 400 runners are expected to run the 3.1 mile course. Following the race, participants will enjoy refreshments and sponsor services in the Arbor Park commuter lot at 159th Street and Oak Avenue (across from the Metra train station). The awards ceremony for all age categories will begin approximately at 9:30 a.m. To register for the race, visit www.oak-forest.org.

After the 5K, cheer on Special Olympic athletes as they complete the Leprechaun Challenge in front of the Waverly commuter lot at 156th Street. The athletes will run to activity stations, which highlight a Special Olympic sport. Once they complete the station, then it's on to the next, for a total of six stations. The 100.3 SHE Team will be at the Waverly commuter lot playing some great tunes and giving away cool prizes with the SHE wheel. And, you can meet your favorite characters – Captain America, Jedi Mickey, Spiderman, and more – when you visit Suburban Party Characters in the Waverly commuter lot. As usual, children and adults can bike, blade, and play a car-free Cicero Avenue from 151st to 156th Street until 10:45 a.m.

The family parade will step off at 11 a.m. from 157th Street and travel north to 151st Street. As the grand marshal, the Oak Forest Police Department’s Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics will lead local businesses, community and civic groups, families, and more up Cicero Avenue.

The city once again will host a pub and restaurant open house from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. Free shuttle buses will make continuous stops from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. at participating pubs and restaurants, including Blarney Stone Pub, Oak Forest Bowl, Marcotte’s Bar and Grill, Mrs. O’Brien’s Pub, Beggar’s Pizza, Tap’s Pub, Nite Games, Oliver’s, and Rockin’ Horse. Although not on the bus route, Gaelic Park will be a part of the festivities as well.

Throughout the event, alcohol will only be permitted inside designated areas such as beer tents, beer gardens, pubs, and restaurants. The city's public intoxication and open containers ordinances will be strictly enforced.

Free parking will be available all day and night in the Arbor Commuter Lot at the southwest corner of 159th Street and Oak Avenue – across from the Metra train station.

Cicero Avenue, from 151st to 159th streets, will be closed from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The city's Emergency Management Agency will allow local traffic to get through the adjacent neighborhoods between 147th Street and 151st Street. It will redirect non-local traffic down 147th Street to Pulaski Road.

For more information, please call 708-687-4600, e-mail oakforestfleadh@oak-forest.org, visit www.oak-forest.org, or find us at www.facebook.com/oakforestfleadh.