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With the Marina City buildings rising in 1962, the 50,000 strong St. Patrick's Day extravaganza is led by Illinois Atty. Gen. William G. Clark (second from left), Mayor Richard J. Daley, Lord Mayor Robert Briscoe of Dublin and Stephen M. Bailey.
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With the Marina City buildings rising in 1962, the 50,000 strong St. Patrick’s Day extravaganza is led by Illinois Atty. Gen. William G. Clark (second from left), Mayor Richard J. Daley, Lord Mayor Robert Briscoe of Dublin and Stephen M. Bailey.

St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago through the years

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With the Marina City buildings rising in 1962, the 50,000 strong St. Patrick's Day extravaganza is led by Illinois Atty. Gen. William G. Clark (second from left), Mayor Richard J. Daley, Lord Mayor Robert Briscoe of Dublin and Stephen M. Bailey.
With the Marina City buildings rising in 1962, the 50,000 strong St. Patrick’s Day extravaganza is led by Illinois Atty. Gen. William G. Clark (second from left), Mayor Richard J. Daley, Lord Mayor Robert Briscoe of Dublin and Stephen M. Bailey.
The West Side Irish Club float heads down State Street during the St. Patrick's Day parade on March 17, 1967.
The West Side Irish Club float heads down State Street during the St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 17, 1967.
Members of the Afro-American Patrolman’s League lead about 100 people during the Black St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 14, 1970, on Chicago’s South Side. The event was called “a protest symbolizing the cutting off of the black community from the mainstream of American life,” according to the March 15, 1970, edition of the Chicago Tribune.
Women dance atop a float representing the Ford City Shopping Center in the St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17, 1973, along State Street in Chicago.
Women dance atop a float representing the Ford City Shopping Center in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17, 1973, along State Street in Chicago.
A band sits atop a barge , waiting to push off from Marina City to celebrate the dyeing of the Chicago River for St. Patrick's Day on March 16, 1974.
A band sits atop a barge , waiting to push off from Marina City to celebrate the dyeing of the Chicago River for St. Patrick’s Day on March 16, 1974.
Actor Chuck Connors, third from left, joined Mayor Richard J. Daley on March 16, 1974, in the St. Patrick's Day parade on State Street.
Actor Chuck Connors, third from left, joined Mayor Richard J. Daley on March 16, 1974, in the St. Patrick’s Day parade on State Street.
Propents of the Equal Rights Amendment were among those marching in the St. Patrick's Day Parade on State Street on March 17, 1975, in Chicago.
Propents of the Equal Rights Amendment were among those marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on State Street on March 17, 1975, in Chicago.
Cecil Partee, left, Jane Byrne, George Dunne, Michael Bilandic, second from right, and Fahey Flynn at the St. Patrick's Day parade in 1979.
Cecil Partee, left, Jane Byrne, George Dunne, Michael Bilandic, second from right, and Fahey Flynn at the St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1979.
During his run for president, Edward “Ted” Kennedy made an appearance at Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1980.
Tom Mugica, 9, during the St. Patrick's Day parade down in the 19th Ward on March 16, 1981, in Chicago.
Tom Mugica, 9, during the St. Patrick’s Day parade down in the 19th Ward on March 16, 1981, in Chicago.
St. Patrick's Day revelers frolic in the snow near the intersection of Delaware Place and State Street, on March 18, 1984. A late winter snowstorm made going tough for those out to celebrate the wearing of the green.
St. Patrick’s Day revelers frolic in the snow near the intersection of Delaware Place and State Street, on March 18, 1984. A late winter snowstorm made going tough for those out to celebrate the wearing of the green.
A man sweeps up garbage from the previous day's St. Patrick's Day celebration on Division Street outside Bootleggers bar on March 17, 1985.
A man sweeps up garbage from the previous day’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Division Street outside Bootleggers bar on March 17, 1985.
Irish eyes smile on Chicago during the St. Patrick's Day parade along Dearborn Street on March 16, 1985, in Chicago as one of the city's finest meets a small Irish charmer much to the delight of the sidewalk contingent.
Irish eyes smile on Chicago during the St. Patrick’s Day parade along Dearborn Street on March 16, 1985, in Chicago as one of the city’s finest meets a small Irish charmer much to the delight of the sidewalk contingent.
A Navy band marches across the shamrock decorated pavement at Dearborn and Washington Streets on March 17, 1987. The St. Patrick's Day parade included 50,000 marchers, 73 floats, 47 bands and 55 marching units.
A Navy band marches across the shamrock decorated pavement at Dearborn and Washington Streets on March 17, 1987. The St. Patrick’s Day parade included 50,000 marchers, 73 floats, 47 bands and 55 marching units.
Democratic mayoral candidate Richard M. Daley and his wife, Maggie, march down Western Avenue south of 103rd Street during the South Side Irish parade on Sunday, March 12, 1989. Amid the ruckus of the mayoral campaign, there was one major issue on the minds of many of those at the South Side Irish Parade -- that one of their own again was on the threshold of being elected the mayor of Chicago. As he prepared to walk the parade route, Daley recalled that the reception hadn't always been this warm. In 1983, he was greeted with occasional jeers by paradegoers who blamed his candidacy for costing Mayor Jane Byrne the election, which was won by the late Mayor Harold Washington.
Democratic mayoral candidate Richard M. Daley and his wife, Maggie, march down Western Avenue south of 103rd Street during the South Side Irish parade on Sunday, March 12, 1989. Amid the ruckus of the mayoral campaign, there was one major issue on the minds of many of those at the South Side Irish Parade — that one of their own again was on the threshold of being elected the mayor of Chicago. As he prepared to walk the parade route, Daley recalled that the reception hadn’t always been this warm. In 1983, he was greeted with occasional jeers by paradegoers who blamed his candidacy for costing Mayor Jane Byrne the election, which was won by the late Mayor Harold Washington.
Ayane Oba, 3, shows her Irish spirit by wearing a button that says, “Kiss me; I’m Irish” during the St. Patrick’s Day parade down Dearborn Street on March 16, 1991, in Chicago.
The ornately costumed Sheila Tully Dancers dance down Dearborn Street in the 38th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, March 18, 1993.
The ornately costumed Sheila Tully Dancers dance down Dearborn Street in the 38th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 18, 1993.
A float honors Chicago police Cmdr. Paul Bauer on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at the South Side Irish Parade.
A float honors Chicago police Cmdr. Paul Bauer on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at the South Side Irish Parade.

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