Grand Marshals Picked For St. Paddy's Day Parade

ST. CHARLES, IL — The grand marshals for this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in St. Charles have been picked.

Sue and Bob McDowell, who've owned McDowell Remodeling for 48 years, will serve as grand marshals in the parade, which is set to step off at 2 p.m. on March 12 at Main and 6th streets, according to a news release from the St. Charles Business Alliance.

The couple was picked to serve in the 2020 St. Patrick's Day Parade, which was called off due to COVID. The parade was cancelled last year as well.

The McDowells were picked because of their longtime service to the St. Charles community, according to the St. Charles Business Alliance news release.

Sue is the president of the St. Charles Arts Council and leads the planning of the St. Charles Fine Art Show, which is celebrating its 24th anniversary on Memorial Day Weekend. She is also on the board for the St. Charles Singers, according to a news release.

Bob has also made numerous contributions to the community. He built the town's Santa’s House, which comes to the First Street Plaza beginning on the Holiday Homecoming weekend. He is also president of Lazarus House where he volunteers his time and building skills.

They have also been involved in the following organizations’ events and fundraisers: St. Charles Heritage Center, Remodelers Advantage Roundtables, the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown St. Charles Partnership and St. Charles Business Alliance.

”We have been privileged to live in St. Charles and have a business here for over 48 years,” Sue said. “We are thrilled to be the Grand Marshals for the St. Patrick’s Parade this year. We’ve been practicing our parade wave for the past two years and can’t wait to see everyone."