St. Patrick's Day 2017: Parades, Festivals, Music, Baldrick's, Parish Parties and MORE

It’s time to paint the Southland green as communities gear up for St. Patrick’s Day 2017. Here’s a rundown of events where you’ll find plenty of Irish merriment including parades, festivals, music, parish parties, soda bread contests, Irish films and more from March 4 through March 19.

St. Barnabas St. Patrick’s Day Party, Fri., March 10 -- Get your head shaved, eat some Irish fare and enjoy live Irish music with Sean and Charlie at St. Barnabas, 10134 S Longwood Drive, Chicago. Raffles, cash bar and food for purchase are featured. The party goes from 7 p.m. to midnight. Barbers will be on the premises from 7 to 9 p.m. to shave heads for St. Baldrick’s. Admission is $20 (must be over 21). St. Baldrick’s barbers will be on the premises from 7 to 9 p.m. for a minimum donation of $20. All proceeds benefit Pediatric Cancer Research, Pat Mac’s Pack and St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

St. Germaine’s Men’s Club, Sat., March 11 -- The ninth annual St. Patrick’s Day Party features dinner, wine, beer and soda in the St. Germaine’s Activity Center, 9711 S. Kolin Ave., Oak Lawn. Enjoy live music and cultural activities featuring the band St. Stephen’s Green, the Lavin Cassidy School of Irish Dancing, and Bagpipes and Drums of the Emerald Society-Chicago Police Department. 9 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $35, or $350 per table. Tickets available through the Parish Center by calling 708-636-5060.

Emerald Isle Mile, Sun., March 12 -- The Emerald Isle Mile, sponsored by Running Excels, springs from the blocks at 11:30 a.m. just before the start of the South Side Irish Parade. The one-miler is B-tag timed race starting at 104th and Western and finishing at 112th. Registration is $25; participants will receive an Emerald Isle knit hat while supplies last. The top male and female finishers will receive a $50 gift certificate to Running Excels. A portion of the proceeds help offset the cost of the parade. Please visit the Emerald Mile Isle page for complete information and to register online.

South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Sun., March 12 -- One of the premiere events on Chicago’s South Side, the parade steps off at noon at 103rd Street and Western Avenue, and proceeds through the Beverly and Morgan Park neighborhoods down Western to 115th Street. arshal Les Turner ALS Foundation led by Meg Rooney, whose late husband John Rooney, a respected journalist who died from the disease in 2016, and Parade Honoree Gerri Neylon, of Evergreen Park, founder of Christmas Without Cancer. Reigning of the South Side Irish Parade is Shannon Zofkie, of Beverly, who has been named the 2017 queen. Shannon will compete in the 2017 Rose of Tralee Pageant in Ireland this summer. This can’t miss parade also features community organizations, parishes, businesses, floats, pipe and drum corps and a politician or two.

Kerry Piper’s Mega St. Paddy’s Day St. Baldrick’s Mega Celebration, March 17, March, 18 and March 19 -- Join Kerry Piper Pub, 7900 Joliet Road, Willowbrook, for what is touted as Chicagoland’s biggest St. Patrick’s celebration culminating in Saturday’s St. Baldrick’s Brave the Shave (11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun., March 19). Enjoy three days of delicious food, drink specials galore and live entertainment, including the McNulty Irish Dancers, the Whiskey Brothers and more. Tents replicate the warm atmosphere of pubs you’d find in Ireland, featuring Irish-American eateries Kerry Piper, Muldoon's and Tommy Nevin's. Tents open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more info, visit Kerry’s Piper Pub or call 630.325.3732.

Tinley Park Irish Parade, Sun., March 19 -- Downtown Tinley Park will be a sea o’ green when the annual Irish parade steps off at 2 p.m. This family-friendly parade along Oak Park Avenue features community groups, local schools and businesses. Before or after the parade, enjoy delicious Irish fare and other activities at the many downtown Tinley restaurants.

Did we miss your event? Send an email with information to Lorraine Swanson at lorraine.swanson@patch.com. We'll add it!