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Chicago Tribune
17-03-2025
- Climate
- Chicago Tribune
Thousands flock to Grayslake's first St. Patrick's Day parade, celebration; ‘We were both stunned and thrilled for the tremendous turnout'
Thousands of people attended Saturday's inaugural Saint Patrick's Day parade and celebration in downtown Grayslake. Windy weather with temperatures in the mid-60s prevailed along a parade route that began at Gelatin Park and continued on Center Street, ending at Slusser Street. The breezy conditions caused flags on parade vehicles to dramatically unfurl. People of all ages lined the parade route, with many dressed in festive attire. Nearly 40 parade entries were featured. Youngsters scrambled for candy and other giveaways such as small toys, including green rubber ducks. The parade did have to pause for a few minutes due to a long, passing train, but then resumed to jubilant spectator fanfare. A line of decorated jeeps wowed the crowd. After the parade, people could stay for afternoon activities that included face-painting and stage entertainment featuring the McNulty Irish Dancers and Celtic music. The Grayslake Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored the first-ever event along with the Grayslake Village Center. Maribeth Hamm of Antioch, the chamber's executive director, said restaurants ran out of food at their outside food and beverage stations. Lake County does not have many St. Patrick's Day parades and municipal celebrations, Hamm said, 'and I think our town can support one.' 'It is beyond exciting,' she said. 'To know that you're the start of something that could be huge, I think is really kind of cool.' Allison Koch, the Village Center coordinator, said, 'This is something that people have been asking for, to have some type of St. Patrick's Day celebration here in the community, so we are so excited to partner together and bring this to the community. 'We were so excited to see the huge crowd,' she said. 'With this being an inaugural event, we were both stunned and thrilled for the tremendous turnout. It was wonderful to see so many people from Grayslake and the surrounding communities come together on Center Street for an amazing day of Irish celebration.' The parade grand marshal was outgoing Grayslake Mayor Rhett Taylor, who stood inside a vehicle waving at spectators. 'This is the very first St. Patrick's Day parade for the village of Grayslake, so I'm so happy we're doing this to bring benefit to our downtown,' he said. 'And I'm thrilled to be the grand marshal.' Serving green beer or other fare included Emil's Tavern on Center at its outside counter. Among the servers was co-owner Bob Bowes. 'This is a wonderful town,' he said. 'All the people are nice to each other, and like sitting next to each other and talking to each other.' Makeup artist Angela Terracciano was busy with face- and hand-painting amid a line of children waiting their turn. 'It is so much fun,' she said. 'To make them happy and to see their smiles, I love it.' Adalynn Stanley, 8, a second-grader from Mundelein, had a rainbow painted on her face rainbow, complete with sparkling green shamrocks. 'It's great,' Adalynn's father Ryan said. 'The kids love the face-painting, excited for the parade. They got a good turnout. Beautiful day.' U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, who walked the parade route, said, 'Today, everybody's Irish.' 'The world is in a hard spot,' he said. 'We've got a lot of people divided, fighting with each other. But the most important thing is today we're in Grayslake. The entire community is together. It's crowded, and people are happy and celebrating. And that's what we're going to do today is celebrate community.'
Chicago Tribune
16-03-2025
- Climate
- Chicago Tribune
Aurora gets its Irish on despite Sunday's cold, snowy weather
Mary Ellen Bender of Aurora stood along Downer Place Sunday morning watching the snow fall minutes before the city's St. Patrick's Parade was about to begin, and said she wasn't flustered in the least. 'For me, I don't let snow or rain ruin anything. I don't. I've come to this several years and sometimes the weather is fine and sometimes it's not, but it's the excitement. It's the enthusiasm,' Bender said. 'We didn't get the luck of the Irish. I told people it was the leprechauns.' The parade in Aurora grew to 30 participants this year from 20 a year ago, and kicked off at 11 a.m. at Water Street and Downer Place before ending at the Grand Army of the Republic Museum, 23 E. Downer Place, where an Irish flag-raising ceremony was held. A press release from the city noted that the flag was raised in memory of Daniel D. Dolan, a longtime Aurora real estate developer and philanthropist. The flag-raising event was set to include the presentation of Emerald Excellence Awards to members of Aurora's Irish community, as well as a performance by the McNulty Irish Dancers. The chilly weather and steady, wet snow on Sunday held down the crowds this year, but those who did come like Billy Van Duzor and his daughter Nora, 8, vowed to make the best of things. 'Luck of the Irish today – I'm not really sure,' Van Duzor said with a laugh. 'Maybe it will turn out lucky but so far not so much. I wish it was yesterday. My wife is Irish and my kids are Irish and it's fun. We love St. Patrick's Day and Aurora always does a good job and it's a parade we'll never forget being in the snow. There's going to be some Irish dancing and it's just fun.' Nora Van Duzor spoke about having to stand in the cold and snow and said 'I'm fine with it.' 'We're going to have some corned beef later,' she said. Lisa Simpson of Montgomery was decked out in some Irish colors and said she 'heard there had been snow in years past.' 'That's what I've heard, it seems like it's always snowing on this day. Mostly likely, there's going to be less of a turnout,' she said. 'But it's the first parade this year in Aurora, the first flag-raising, I'm loving it.' Alex MacDougall of Sugar Grove, his wife Tiffany and their children were likewise dressed for the occasion and said this was their second year at the parade. 'We pressed on. We came because, we have to. It's St. Patrick's Day,' MacDougall explained. 'We've got the corned beef and cabbage waiting for us when we get home – it's already going. For me, the holiday is fun. Everyone's Irish. It's just something different than Christmas and festive in a different way.' Tiffany MacDougall was sporting a leprechaun hat she said belonged to her husband, noting that 'he's had it for years – since college at least.' 'Getting all decorated and doing the whole festive thing, I think every one likes this because everyone can partake in it,' she said of St. Patrick's festivities. 'It's something that just works for everyone.'
Chicago Tribune
10-03-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Aurora St. Patrick's Parade, Irish flag-raising ceremony to be held Sunday
The city of Aurora will hold its St. Patrick's Parade and Irish flag-raising ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday in downtown Aurora. The event 'honoring the legacy of the parade's namesake and Aurora icon, the late Mr. Daniel D. Dolan' is set to be larger than ever, city officials said. Clayton Muhammad, chief communications and equity officer for the city of Aurora. said there will be 'more units this year in the parade than ever before.' 'This year, we have nearly 30 participants whereas last year, we had about 20,' he said. 'We have built up the parade and the excitement comes, and there is good energy. This is Aurora's newest parade.' Participation has increased over the past couple of years, Muhammad said, 'just based on awareness.' 'People are aware of it, and we started off the first year with the flag-raising and then the year before last, we did our first parade and then last year our second (parade),' he said. 'Immediately following last year's parade, we started getting emails or calls about people wanting to get in next year or saying they work downtown with their family and want to be a part of it,' he said. The parade, Muhammad said, is named in honor 'of what we call Aurora's great Irishman, Mr. Dan Dolan.' 'The proud Tomcat (from East Aurora High School) that he was, he literally changed the face of the city through his real estate business and was just a staunch supporter, and after he passed, we're happy to honor the Dolan family in honor of their father,' Muhammad said. A press release from the city notes that the parade will begin at 11 a.m. at Water Street and Downer Place, marching west to Stolp Avenue before reaching the main stage at the GAR Museum, 23 E. Downer Place. An Irish flag-raising ceremony will immediately follow, something that Muhammad said 'would kick off our series of cultural and national flag-raisings.' 'We have 16 of them this year,' he said of the flag-raisings, noting that at the one on Sunday the city will 'hand out the Emerald Excellence Awards to Aurora's Irish community members.' The celebration will also include a performance by the McNulty Irish Dancers, followed by the hoisting of the Irish flag by the Dolan family. 'Then, everybody spreads out throughout downtown Aurora where the bars and restaurants are anxiously awaiting the parade-goers to keep the party going,' Muhammad said with a laugh. 'The universal appeal to this – even though everyone isn't Irish – is the universal energy to kick off the new year. We're coming out of cold and people are energized and excited.'
