St. Patrick’s festivities are starting early at Chicago Gaelic Park.
“Sunday is, like, 12 hours of family celebration of Irish heritage,” says John Griffin, president of Chicago Gaelic Park, a non-for-profit organization with a goal of promoting and fostering Irish culture, music and sports. “This will be a lot of fun, a real cross-generational event.”
The big day starts with a 9 a.m. mass, followed by a traditional Irish breakfast (breakfast tickets are $5). Then there will be free buses to and from the South Side Irish Parade, which steps off at noon on Western Avenue. And visitors are invited to march alongside the Chicago Gaelic Park float.
After the parade, the fun starts back at Gaelic Park, 6119 W. 147th St. in Oak Forest. Doors open at 1:30 p.m., with three stages of continuous entertainment, including Irish folk music, dancing, a magic show, a pipe band and more. Admission is free.
“We have something for everyone, from little kids to parents to grandparents,” Griffin points out.
And the St. Pat’s celebration doesn’t stop when the doors close Sunday night. From 6 to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Chicago Gaelic Park will host Ireland on Parade, with music, several Irish dance schools, step dancing and ceili dancing (similar to square dancing). Again, admission is free; food will be available for purchase. On Friday there will be a St. Patrick’s Day luncheon at noon (doors open at 11 a.m., $15) with music and dancing, and a traditional Irish dinner (7 p.m., doors open at 6, $30 with a cash bar) followed by a raffle and a concert.
For more information on the week’s schedule, call 708-687-9323, or go to www.cgp-chicago.org on the Web.
