St. Patrick’s parade in East Dundee to be held March 7
The annual Thom McNamee Memorial St. Patrick’s Day Parade in East Dundee will be held Saturday, March 7, 10 days prior to the actual holiday.
Typically it’s held the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day or, if St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday, on that day.
“We decided on an earlier date for entertainment and attendance purposes,” parade organizer Eileen McNamee said. “We’ve been having issues competing with other towns for bagpipe bands and other units.”
This year St. Charles and Naperville will be among suburban towns holding St. Patrick’s parades on March 14, and Chicago will host its downtown parade that day as well.
The Dublindee Kilted 5K Race and Fun Walk kicks off events at 8 a.m. Registration is $50 for anyone who registers in February and increases to $60 on March 1, its website says. The cost is $25 for participants ages 6 to 17 and free for children ages 5 and younger.
The traditional St. Patrick’s parade and a pet parade follow the run/walk.
For more information, go to dundeestpats.org.
Registration deadlines nearing for South Elgin events
Registration deadlines are fast approaching for two South Elgin Parks Department events: Puzzle Palooza and Mom/Son Bowling & Pizza.
Puzzle Palooza will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, at Bub’s Corner Pub, 335 N. McLean Blvd. Registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 13.
Open to anyone 18 or older, participants can compete by themselves or as part of a team, according to the village’s website. Each will receive the same 500-piece puzzle and have up to 2½ hours to complete it. If no one completes it in the allotted time, the winner will be chosen by the fewest number of loose pieces left.
The fee for teams of four is $40 for South Elgin residents and $60 for nonresidents. Individuals pay $10 if they are village residents, $15 for nonresidents.
Go to southelgin.com/residents/special_events/puzzle_palooza.php to register.
The registration deadline is Sunday, Feb. 15, for Mom/Son Bowling & Pizza, which will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 6, at St. Charles Bowl, 2520 W. Main St., St. Charles. Bowling, pizza, soda, dessert and prize drawings are included.
The cost for one mother/son couple is $53 for village residents, $61 for nonresidents and $23 for each additional child.
Go to southelgin.com/residents/special_events/mom_son_bowling_and_pizza.php to register.
College, trade school scholarships offered by 3 groups
Three local organizations are offering scholarships for the 2026-27 school year.
Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain will be awarding two $500 scholarships through the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, according to a news release. Applicants must be permanent Illinois residents and be enrolled in a college, university or trade school for the 2026-27 academic year.
Applications are due Friday, March 13, and available at Hain’s office, 37W755 Route 38, Suite A, St. Charles, or on the ISA website, ilsheriff.org/youth-2.
The Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Dollars for Scholars program is offering multiple scholarships of $1,000 or more to high school seniors or college students who live in the chamber’s service area or are affiliated with the chamber, a social media post said.
Applications are due Tuesday, March 31. Go to nkccwib.dollarsforscholars.org to apply.
The Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce and its economic development program, Elgin Development Group, are offering $1,000 scholarships to 10 graduating high school seniors who live in Elgin and South Elgin, a news release said.
The awards are merit based and open to students pursuing education through certificate, license, two-year or four-year trade or technical school or university. Applications will be accepted online at elginchamber.com/scholarship-application until Friday, April 10.
