Chicago South Side Irish Parade steps off in city's Beverly neighborhood
The 48th annual South Side Irish Parade stepped off Sunday in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood.
The parade draws thousands of people each year to celebrate Irish heritage and community. It will step off at noon, filling Western Avenue with parade floats, marching bands, and thousands of people lining the streets for one of Chicago's best-known St. Patrick's Day traditions.
The parade was to run along Western Avenue from 103rd Street to 111th Street.
Floats staged along Western Avenue throughout the morning before the parade began, with more than 100 groups expected to take part in the parade.
The event features pipe bands, Irish dancers, community organizations, local schools, and first responder honor guards.
"We're very proud of this day. Our whole community, we work probably over half the year on it to organize it, and it's a great big gathering — you know, a lot of family parties," said South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade executive committee member Pat Coakley. "You know, and again, you know, people kind of address each other a week or two before as like, 'Have a great parade day.' It's sort of a holiday."
This year's grand marshal is the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a national nonprofit that supports the families of fallen first responders and military service members by providing mortgage-free homes and support services.
"We're thrilled. You know, our foundation is celebrating our 25th anniversary this year, and we have several families that we've been fortunate enough to help," said Aric Grooms of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
The name of the foundation honors Stephen Siller, the FDNY firefighter who on Sept. 11, 2001, abandoned his truck and ran through New York City's Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel with all his gear toward the World Trade Center. He was killed when the South Tower collapsed.
The foundation notably organizes the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run in New York, which draws tens of thousands of people in late September every year.
"Basically, our promise to the first responder and military community is this — if you have young children, and you kiss your kids goodbye in the morning, and you don't come back from your shift, we'll provide your family with a mortgage-free home," Grooms said.
Fr. Ryan Brady of St. Christina Parish in Mount Greenwood said the community was ready for the parade, even with wind and rain expected Sunday morning.
"We're hardy people down on the South Side, so we're happy, and we've been to this parade when it's been 70 degrees and sunny. We've been to this parade when it's been 5 degrees and snowing. But either way, what a great day to celebrate.
St. Christina is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
"We're so honored to celebrate who we are, who we were, and who we long to be," said Brady.
Father Brady said the majority of St. Christina parishioners have been able to celebrate the South Side Irish Parade for their whole lives.
Chicago South Side Irish Parade organizers say the goal each year is to celebrate Irish heritage while keeping the event family-friendly and safe.
Organizers also remind people planning to come out Sunday to pay close attention to parking restrictions and street closures in the area as the parade route fills up.
The South Side Irish Parade began in 1979 as a brief march along two residential blocks by the "Wee Folks of Washtenaw and Talman."
The event went on hiatus after the 2009 parade, at which there were dozens of arrests, while local residents said the underage drinking and rowdiness had grown out of control. The parade returned in 2012, with a zero-tolerance rule for alcohol.
The parade was also canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also Sunday, the Northwest Irish Parade stepped off at noon in the Norwood Park neighborhood. It starts at the Onahan School, 6634 W. Raven St., and then heading south to Northwest Highway and then northwest to Harlem Avenue.