Celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Chicago

Chicago has been celebrating St. Patrick's Day, in one form or another, since 1843. Now, it's like Christmas in March when, as the saying goes, "Everybody is Green for a Day."

With the city's official St. Patrick's Day Parade, the celebrated South Side Irish Parade and a host of Irish-themed haunts, this year the City of Big Shoulders offers more fun than you can shake a shillelagh at ...

The 52^nd annual Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade will actually take place on St. Patrick's Day this year -- Saturday, March 17, 2007. Marchers will start at noon at Balbo Avenue and Columbus Drive and precede northbound towards Buckingham Fountain. A viewing stand will be erected at Congress Drive in front of the immense waterspout. Floats, marching bands, local celebrities and -- of course -- bagpipers from across the globe will be participating, and thousands of Chicagoans of all ages will line the parade route to take in the fun.

About an hour before hand, in a spirited tradition that dates back to 1962, the Chicago River will once again be dyed green. Arrive at the Michigan Avenue Bridge (or any other nearby north-south crossing) by approximately 10:45 AM and you may be in time for the best view in the house as a riverboat dumps the "secret ingredients," a mixture reportedly known to only a few Chicago families, that will turn our celebrated waterway into an emerald channel to make the rivers Liffey and Shannon proud.

The green concoction is biodegradable, or so we are told, so even the most environmentally conscious of leprechauns can fully embrace the fun.

Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade, traditionally led by "Hizzonor" Mayor Richard M. Daley, is the city's largest parade of the year. For some Chicagoans, however, it ranks as only the second best St. Patrick's Day Parade in the city.

What can one say? Chicago likes to celebrate its Irish heritage.