Your 2018 Oak Forest Fleadh Survival Guide

OAK FOREST, IL - One of Oak Forest's largest yearly celebrations is this Saturday. The Oak Forest Fleadh returns for its ninth year on Saturday, March 3. An all-day celebration of Irish heritage, this year's event in the heart of Oak Forest again features a 5K race, open streets event, parade down Cicero Avenue and pub-to-pub bus ride.

Here's what you'll need to know as you plan ahead for the big day.

5K Race

The CNB Bank & Trust 5K race features a "rolling course takes you through the heart of the celebrations as you race up and down Cicero Avenue and through the city's 3rd Ward," according to the event's Facebook page. The course starts and finishes at 159th and Cicero Avenue. Awards and refreshments will be available at the tent south of 159th Street after the race.

The cost of the run is $30 if you register online before 5 p.m. on Friday. On-site registration will also be available before the race on race day, from 7-8 a.m., for $35.

Sign up for the 5K here

Open Streets Event

Ride, blade or skate on the parade route before it starts, from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Cicero will be open for this and closed to traffic during this time.

Parade

The parade will feature 60 floats. The route runs south on Cicero from 159th to 151st. Units will stage in the parking lot north of the Metra station near 157th Street. Confirmed participants in this year's Fleadh parade are:

• 4 Paws Playhouse
• Acorn Public Library
• All State Semanate Agency
• American Legion / Orland Memorial Post 111
• Bare Knuckle Tattoo
• Beggars Pizza
• Bettenhausen Automotive
• Blarney Stone Pub
• Cheers Restaurant & Live Music Venue
• Cindy's Pub
• CUB PACK 341 / CARRYING FLAGS
• CUB PACK 348 / WELCOME BANNER
• Daisy Troop / St Damian
• Edward Jones, Dan McHugh
• Elected Officials of Oak Forest
• EMA
• Fairview Realty
• Faith United Methodist Church
• Fish Tales Fishing Club
• Friends of Oak Forest Animal Control
• Gaelic Park
• Girl Scout Troop 60033
• Girl Scout Troop 60649
• Girl Scout Troop 65466
• Great Clips
• Irish Wolf Hound
• John Amico School of Hair Design
• Kevin Szabo Plumbing
• King Heating and Air
• Lee's Academy of Martial Arts
• MB Financial
• Pipes and Drums of the Lake County Indiana Sheriff's Department
• Oak Forest Baseball
• Oak Forest Bowl
• Oak Forest Flag Football and Cheerleading
• Oak Forest Girls Softball
• Oak Forest Park District
• Oak Forest Raiders
• Oak Forest Warrior Wrestling
• Oak Forest Barracudas
• Oak Forest Fire Department
• Oak Forest Police Department
• Oak Forest Veterans Commission, Parade Grand Marshal
• Page Deulin Face Painting
• Patricia Joan Murphy, Candidate for Cook County Commissioner 6th District
• Sherwin Williams Oak Forest
• Slapshots Sports Bar & Grill
• SSSRA
• St. Damian School
• Stockyard Kilty Band
• Suburban Party Characters
• The Rockin' Horse
• Treasure Chest Foundation
• Valley Kingdom Ministries
• VCNA Prairie LLC
• Veterans Commission
• Village of Midlothian
• White Castle
• Windy City Thunderbolts

Grand Marshal

The Oak Forest Veterans Commission will serve as the Grand Marshal. Several past and present members of the military will be recognized.

Parking

Parking will be available in the lot south of 159th Street near Oak Avenue.

Street Closure

Cicero Avenue, from 151st Street to 159th Street, will be closed 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Ride The Bus From Pub To Pub

A pub and restaurant open house is planned for the evening hours. Oak Forest-Crestwood Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kim Malecky-Iles said the individual bars are planning a bus route from spot to spot between 6-11 p.m.

Cindy's Pub, Oak Forest Bowl, Oliver's, The Rockin' Horse, Nite Games, Beggar's, Marcotte's, Durbin's, Cheers, Slapshots Bar & Grill and Blarney Stone are all participating in the open house/bus route, Malecky-Iles said.

Pub Specials

Blarney Stone: Blarney Stone opens at 7 a.m. Breakfast & Bloody Mary bar from 8-10 a.m. Parade viewing from heated tent at 11 a.m. Corned beef, green beer, Jameson, Guinness and live music. Food served all day, Live music starting at Noon. Sean & Charlie at 3:30 p.m., The Pheromones at 9 p.m., Sean & Charlie DJ Midnight to 3 a.m.

Marcotte's Bar: Marcotte's will have breakfast from 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. Later, corned beef and cabbage lunch and dinner specials.

Oliver's Bar And Grill

Bailey's Bar And Grill

Also in the area: The Rockin' Horse Saloon and Grill, 5200 W. 159th St.; Cindy's Pub, 5230 W. 159th St; Taps Pub, 15427 S. Cicero; Overtime Sports Bar, 5233 W. 159th St.

Some pubs may have cover charges, but most didn't last year. See above for the Pub & Restaurant open house that includes a shuttle bus to several bars in Oak Forest and Midlothian.

Hosts

The Fleadh (pronounced flah) is hosted by both the city of Oak Forest and Oak Forest-Crestwood Area Chamber of Commerce.

Sponsors

Premier sponsors are Beggar's, the City of Oak Forest, Oak Forest Bowl, Oak Forest-Crestwood Area Chamber, Quality Printing & Design and Sherwin Williams. A full list of sponsors can be found here on the Chamber's website.

A LOOK BACK: View Photos From The 2017 Oak Forest Fleadh Here

Patch file photo / Tim Moran