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Chicago celebrates St. Patrick’s Day by dyeing the Chicago River green in one of the most unique celebrations in the world. The Plumbers Union will be in boats and will pour the dye at 9 am. The color lasts about 5 hours but is at its brightest after it is poured, so get there early and take pictures. This is done on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day.
Also held on that Saturday is the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The first parade was held in 1843. This year’s parade will begin at noon. The city’s Shannon Rivers Irish Pipe Band has been leading the procession for the past 60 years. You’ll see colorful floats, Irish step dancing, bagpipers, marching bands, leprechauns and so much more. The crowd is estimated to be over 2 million people.
The popular South Side Irish Parade is a family friendly celebration of Irish history. It is in Beverly, a neighborhood with deep Irish roots. This parade will go down Western Avenue. It is happening on Sunday, March 19, 2024 at 12 pm. The crowd is estimated to be at 150,000 people.
If you’d like to learn more about the history of the Irish in Chicago, visit the Chicago History Museum.
Also on Sunday at noon is the Northwest Side Irish Parade. The parade goes through the Norwood Park area, going to Northwest Highway. There will be a huge after party featuring a corned beef and cabbage dinner, cheesecake, beer, wine, soft drinks and live entertainment.
On March 17, 2024, the Irish American Heritage Center is having a St. Patrick’s Fest from 7 pm to 10 pm. The Fest will feature The Screaming Orphans, a chart topping all sister band from Dongal, Ireland. This will be held in the Mayfair Theatre.
Shamrock’n the Block
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church will be hosting their annual Shamrock’n the Block, a pop-up Irish pub. There will be live music, food and a heated tent beer garden. Events for the kids will include a balloon artist, a magician, and Irish dancing lessons. This is happening on Saturday, Saturday, March 16, 2024. Entertainment line up includes Liam Durkin, Chancey Brothers and Whiskey Mick. The Pot O’ Gold Raffle has a Grand Prize of $20,000!
Food & Drinks
Do you have a sweet tooth? Stan’s Donuts & Coffee will be serving St. Patrick’s donuts from March 10 through March 17, 2023. These donuts include
- Green river glazed donuts
- Irish cream bismarck donuts
- Chocolate emerald dipped donut
Irish Restaurants
And if you’d like a culinary celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, why not go to an Irish eatery? The following restaurants were chosen as the Top 15 Irish restaurants in Chicago by the users of TripAdvisor.
- Fado Irish Pub
- D4 Irish Pub & Cafe
- The Kerryman
- Emerald Loop
- Kitty O’Sheas
- Lady Gregory’s Bar & Restaurant
- Timothy’s O’Toole’s Pub
- Chief O’Neill’s
- The Galway Arms
- Butch McGuire’s
- Dublin’s Bar & Grill
- The Curragh Irish Pub
- Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro
- Wilde Bar & Restaurant
- Lizzie McNeill’s Irish Pub
Hotel Deals
If you’d like to visit Chicago to enjoy the celebrations, you should consider the following hotels that are offering discounted rates.
- The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop: 30% Discount
- Staypineapple, An Iconic Hotel, The Loop: 25% Discount
- Omni Chicago Hotel: 20% Discount
- Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park: 20% Discount
- Kimpton Gray Hotel, an IHG Hotel: 20% Discount
- Eurostars Magnificent Mile: 20% Discount
- Hotel Felix River North/Magnificent Mile: 20% Discount
- Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel: 20% Discount
- The Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown: 17% Discount
- Congress Plaza Hotel: 20% Discount
- Club Quarters Hotel, Central Loop, Chicago: 15% Discount
- Central Loop Hotel: 15% Discount
- Sonder The Burnham: 15% Discount
- Holiday Inn Express Chicago – Magnificent Mile, an IHG Hotel: 15% Discount
- Travelodge by Wyndham Downtown Chicago: 15% Discount
- Sonesta ES Suites Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile – Medical: 15% Discount
- The Royal Sonesta Chicago River North: 14% Discount
- Claridge House: 13% Discount
- The Blackstone, Autograph Collection: 12% Discount
- The Hoxton Chicago: 10% Discount
- Kasa River North Chicago: 10% Discount
Other Chicago Activities
And while you’re visiting Chicago, why not go to Teatro Zinzanni and see a great show?
Or you could go on a Chicago Food Tour.
You could also go on a Wrigleyville Bar Crawl & History Tour.
Or you could get the greatest views of the city from the Chicago Observation Deck.