Aurora will hold a St. Patrick’s celebration downtown Sunday that will feature a procession with more than 20 units and the second annual Irish Flag Raising Ceremony.
Beginning at noon on Sunday, the celebration will feature the “Daniel Dolan Sr.” procession with more than 20 parade units, including vehicles, cultural groups, businesses and organizations, officials said.
A veteran and former Aurora firefighter, Dan Dolan Sr. was a prominent Realtor and philanthropist in the city for decades before passing away in 2020 at the age of 89, city officials said.
“Because of him and his commitment to our community, the Dolan name is synonymous with Aurora,” said Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin in a press release about Sunday’s events. “Beyond his generational success in real estate, he impacted generations of Aurorans through his philanthropy, generosity and selfless service. It is the utmost honor to have our first-ever St. Patrick’s Day Parade in his memory.”
With the primary block of Downer Place in downtown Aurora, the procession will step off at Water Street, head west, and conclude at Stolp Avenue, where participants and spectators will convene for the second annual Irish Flag Raising Ceremony on the main stage at 20 E. Downer Place.
The ceremony will include cultural performances, a proclamation reading, a presentation of the Emerald Excellence Awards and the raising of the Irish flag.
Many downtown businesses and restaurants will be open with St. Patrick’s Day themes and specials immediately following the celebration, city officials said in the release.
