St. Patrick's Day Parade is This Week in St. Charles

ST. CHARLES, IL - The 2017 St. Patrick's Day Parade in St. Charles will be held on March 11. The parade steps off at 2 p.m on Main and 6th Street streets and travels down Main Street to 4th Avenue, according to a news release.

"Thousands of people of all ages line Main Street to watch the antics of cheerful leprechauns, listen to award-winning local marching bands, watch the elaborate and colorful floats glide down the street, pay tribute to the walking units of veterans, hear the melodic strains of the Celtic pipe bands, and see all the best that St. Charles has to offer," according to information posted about the event on the Downtown St. Charles Partnership website.

A number of street closings will be in effect during the parade and there will also be additional parking restrictions in the downtown area.

Street Closures

• Beginning at approximately 1:45 p.m., Main Street (Illinois Route 64) will be closed between 7th Street on the west side of the river and 5th Avenue (Illinois Route 25) on the east.
• 2nd Street (Illinois Route 31) will also be closed at that time between State Street and Illinois Street.

These streets also will be closed beginning at 11 a.m. to allow for the staging of parade units:

• Walnut Street from S. 3rd Street to S. 7th Street
• S. 4th Street from Main Street to Illinois Street
• S. 5th Street from Main Street to Illinois Street
• S. 6th Street from Main Street to Illinois Street
• N. 6th Street from Main Street to State Street
• N. 5th Street from Main Street to State Street
• Cedar Street from N. 5th Street to N. 7th Street

Detour Routes

Detour routes for both Route 64 and Route 31 will be posted and staffed by police and emergency management personnel utilizing the following streets:

• State Street, 7th Street, Illinois Street, Illinois Avenue, and 5th Avenue.

Motorists are reminded to follow detour route signs and be alert for pedestrians and traffic control personnel, according to a news release. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes, as long delays are possible.

Parking Restrictions

Parking will be prohibited on the Parade and Detour Routes from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Parking also will be prohibited on streets closed for parade staging. Vehicles parked in violation during this time frame will be towed, according to a news release.

The St Charles Police Department reminds everyone to act responsibly this St. Patrick's Day, be mindful of increased pedestrian traffic and do not text and "drive sober or get pulled over," according to the news release from the police department.

For parade information visit the Downtown St. Charles Partnership website at www.downtownstcharles.org.

Patch File Photo via The Downtown St. Charles Parntership (Patch Poster)