Much like the days getting longer and the air less biting, a sure harbinger that spring is coming is the 33rd annual West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Naperville.
The parade, which began as a simple four-block march in 1993, is a tradition that this year steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 14, from Naperville North High School at the corner of Mill Street and Ogden Avenue.
The route heads heads south on Mill Street, east on Jefferson Avenue through downtown, south on Main Street, crosses Aurora Avenue and down Porter Avenue, where it ends at Naperville Central High School.
Presented annually by the West Suburban Irish Association, the parade celebrates Irish heritage with performances from traditional Irish dance schools and bagpipe and drum bands and dozens of floats, cars and marchers in between, parade chair Rich Janor said.
“We’re expecting about 10,000 spectators,” he said. “We’ll have a really good blend of community groups, nonprofits, the traditional Irish dance groups, bagpipers, some of the Shriners, local businesses. It’s a more diverse group of entries than ever before.”
That includes local businesses, politicians, Scouts, youth sports associations and community groups. And, of course, St. Patrick himself is always a part of the event.
Police and firefighters are at the head of the procession, joined by color guards from the American Legion and VFW and the Firefighters Highland Guard of Naperville.
There will be about 100 entries in the parade.
“It’s one of the larger community-based parades in the country,” Janor said. “You have major cities like Chicago or New York that might have larger parades or bigger crowds but as far as community parades, this one is really substantial.”
Several awards are presented to spur competition among the participants, including the Kevin Dolan Founders Award for best overall entry, best new entry, best business and best nonprofit.
“Of course, we all know that the most entertaining entries are the most impactful so I’ve been reaching out to all the group leads encouraging them to make their entries as entertaining and festive as possible,” Janor said. “Everything from green T-shirts to beads and gold coins and traditional Irish music. We’re really encouraging people to make their entries impactful, and that will be more entertaining for all the kids lining the streets to see.”
Longtime West Suburban Irish member Eddie Curley, of Naperville, will be the grand marshal. He is being recognized for his years of service to the organization, including his work as a volunteer and fundraiser.
Curley said he was surprised and honored to be chosen, noting the organization’s connection to community and tradition. The West Suburban Irish has been a way to stay connected to his Irish roots while serving others and building relationships, he said.
In addition to acting as the volunteer coordinator for the trip to Ireland raffle, which is part of the festivities, Curley has been a volunteer with the Naperville Emergency Management Agency, Naperville Little League Baseball and the Naperville North Booster Club.
“I’ve been involved with the West Suburban Irish for as long as I can remember,” he said. “I spent many years working on the parade float at Quigley’s Irish Pub. It means a lot to me. I love people and I love being around this whole community.
“This year as grand marshal … because I get to choose what I want to (ride on), I’ll be on Quigley’s float again. I’m bringing my family with me.”
He’ll wear a grand marshal sash and he’s having special shirts made for family members, he said.
“It’s sort of a lifetime achievement award for Eddie as he has been a longtime volunteer for the West Suburban Irish and has held many different roles in the organization and also has been very involved in the community,” Janor said. “He will be an excellent grand marshal.”
The parade is a year-long effort, from recruiting entries and sponsors to working with Naperville North and Central high schools and the city’s public works, fire and police departments, Janor said.
Families will put their chairs out early, eagerly awaiting the spectacle in additon to the candy, beads and other swag parade participants distribute along the path, he said.
“We really don’t get visibility of what anybody’s creating until the morning of the parade,” Janor said. “Sometimes people will post a glimpse on their social media platforms as to what they’re building or creating, but for the most part we see it for the first time on parade day the same as all the visitors will.”
The parade also serves as welcome to spring, he said.
“In West Suburban Irish, we say it’s the start of the high season, which is obviously the run-up to St. Patrick’s Day,” Janor said. “For the community at large, it speaks to hope and new beginnings and the start of spring. And we certainly hope for favorable weather — sunny and 75 sounds really good to me.”
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
