Chicago Weekend Fun!

The stop motion photography of the Chicago River being Dyed Green on St Patrick’s Day 2009 is from of Anthony Stewart Photography and runs about 30 seconds and then will stop. Press replay to see it again.

The Downtown Chicago St Patrick’s Day Parade begins at 12:00 noon, Saturday March 13th. This year like in many years the Chicago St Patrick’s Day Parade is not held on the actual holiday in order to make it more convenient to attend. (it’s also a fun free thing to do for the holiday) The parade will be held starting at Balbo and Columbus and runs north on Columbus to Monroe. You can get more details at ChicagoStPatsParade.com.

Taking Public Transportation to the Chicago St Patrick’s Day Parade is strongly encouraged since parking is scarce and expensive. Any of the EL loop lines are accessible, get off at the train at Randolph, Madison or Adams and walk east to Columbus. If you are coming in from a Metra line to Union Station, the walk is much further, and you will probably want to take a bus or cab from the station to Columbus. Plus it will most likely be cold, so walking 10 blocks or so isn’t fun when it is that cold. If you are lucky to be coming in to Millennium Station, exit on Lake Street and walk 2 blocks east to Columbus.

The Irish Plumbers in action on St Patrick’s Day Dyeing the Chicago River Green in the old location at the Michigan Avenue Bridge.

Dyeing the Chicago River also happens downtown at 10:45 am: Saturday March 13th. You can see the green river dyeing process from the East side of the Chicago River bridge at Columbus Drive or upper and lower Wacker Drive between Columbus and Lake Shore Drive. This is a new location due to construction taking place this year. There is all kinds of mystical folklore about leprechauns that surrounds the dyeing of the river but basically the local Journeymen Plumbers use 40 gallons of vegetable dye to change the color of the river for a few hours in celebration and spirit of St Patrick’s Day and Irish Traditions. It is enjoyed by everyone and quite a sight to see in person. Stay downtown for the Parade at Noon.

There is also a 2010 Naperville St Patrick’s Day parade on the same day in the SW suburbs. The west suburban residents will be able to celebrate their Irish heritage in the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 13. The 2010 Naperville St Patrick’s Day parade kicks off at 10 am from Naperville North High School, located at 899 N. Mill Street. The parade moves south on Mill Street, east on Jefferson Avenue, south on Main Street and west on Water Street to the Municipal Center. The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is hosted by the West Suburban Irish group. All residents are encouraged to donate a non-perishable food item at the parade to benefit the Loaves and Fishes Community Food Pantry Charity.

And last but not least, there is the ever popular South Side Irish Parade is canceled for this year. They actually mention on their website at southsideirishparade.org that instead there is a South Side Irish Family Fest instead on Saturday March 13th. The family fest as well as the St Patrick’s Day Parade is a celebration of Irish heritage in the Beverly-Morgan Park community on the South Side of Chicago. The family fest will be much different than the Parade. It features a best Irish Sodabread contest and a Best Dresed Dog contest. Check out southsideirishparade.org for the full schedule. Many of us hope that things are calmer there this year and yet still festive.

The official parade route map downtown in Chicago – click to enlarge the image: