×
The Tribune has covered the competition to select the downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade queen since the 1960s. And, as Tribune columnist Rick Kogan found out in 2011, the process has always been A parade float heads down State Street during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1970. Supporters of Irish Northern Aid rally at the Civic Center in downtown Chicago on May 19, 1974. 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 Credit: Kathleen Hinkel/Block Club Chicago. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Chicago was held in 1843, when the city’s population was between 8,000 and 12,000. Marchers included citizens, a band and a military group of Irish men called the Montgomery Guard, who had spent the winter raising money for uniforms that debuted in the parade. Now in its 68th year, the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade has become one of the city’s defining traditions, accompanied by the dyeing of the river by the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Chicago was held on March 17, 1843. It was a modest affair, representing the Irish of Chicago, who then numbered about 775. The marchers trooped down Clark Street with “Smiling John” Davlin as grand marshal and Capt. Patrick Kelly leading an Irish military unit known as the Montgomery Guards. The downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day parade kicks off at noon Saturday. Entry to the parade route opens at 11 a.m. at Jackson Boulevard and Ida B. Wells Drive, according to the organizers. Abstract Daniel Patrick Lydon (1924-1993) was the director of public information for the city of Chicago Department of Planning and the coordinator of Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. This collection contains papers and photographs collected by Lydon highlighting local and national political campaigns, events, and holidays in which he The Irish population was growing steadily in Chicago by the mid-1800s, but it wasn't until the next century that St. Patrick's Day took hold of the city every March. The city's first parade was The first Irish parade in Chicago was organized in 1843 by victims of British discrimination, and the St. Patrick’s Day parade became a talisman against an outbreak of a similar prejudice in St. Patrick’s Day revellers will descend on the Chicago River and Grant Park Saturday, March 16, for the annual greening of the river and parade. After the river takes on its neon hue around When does the downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade take place? Bagpipers play during the Downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 11, 2023 in Chicago. (Shanna Madison/Chicago Tribune) Illinois politicians, including House Speaker Michael Madigan, second from right, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, center, march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 12, 2016, along Columbus Drive in Chicago. Chicago Tribune historical photo. The West Side Irish Club float heads down State Street during the St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17, 1967. Suzanne Tennant/Post-Tribune. Spectators watch the bagpipers at the beginning of the Hessville St. Patrick's Day parade, Saturday, March 16, 2019. Members of the North Bay Harbor High School Marching Band from Panama City, Fla., huddle together with an emergency blanket to stay warm before the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 12, 2022, in The St. Rita of Cascia High School band performs during the South Side Irish Parade Sunday, St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2019, in Chicago. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune) Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune 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 Irish painted the town green today, the eve of St. Patrick’s Day, starting with a parade of 10,000 down State Street on March 15, 1957. Mayor Richard J. Daley, center, led the procession. Parade goers are reflected on the face of a City of Chicago Pipe Band drum during the St. Patrick's Day Parade along South Columbus Drive on March 12, 2022, in Chicago. John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |