The St. Patrick’s celebration in St. Charles set for Saturday is more than just the annual parade downtown, organizers said, with a variety of activities planned.
The celebration starts at 11 a.m. Saturday with an opening ceremony at First Street Plaza in downtown St. Charles near Gia Mia and McNally’s Irish Pub & Kitchen. It will feature performances from Irish dancers and bagpipers, along with a complimentary face-painter to get people into the spirit of the day, officials said.
Following the opening ceremony, visitors can take part in a St. Patrick’s-themed scavenger hunt. To participate, individuals will need to locate shamrocks hidden throughout the downtown. There will be 10 shamrocks hidden within the route of the parade – Sixth Street and Fourth Avenue. Once located, the participant will need to take a photo of themselves with the shamrock, scan the QR code and submit the photo along with the form found on www.stcalliance.org/shamrockhunt. The form will be available online starting March 15.
The more shamrocks that are found, the more entries participants get, organizers said.
On March 18, three winners in the scavenger hunt will be selected to win a “pot of gold” valued at $400, officials said.
The St. Patrick’s Parade will begin at 2 p.m., stepping off at Sixth Street and traveling down Main Street to conclude at Fourth Avenue.
Attendees will also have the chance to capture their time at the St. Patrick’s Parade by visiting the photo opportunities around town, officials said.
Many businesses will also be hosting special sales, promotions and events in honor of the day. For more about local deals taking place during the St. Charles St. Patrick’s Parade, go to www.stcstpatricksparade.com/salesandspecials.
St. Charles Business Alliance Executive Director Jenna Sawicki said the annual St. Charles tradition of the St. Patrick’s Parade is a special one.
“The St. Charles St. Patrick’s Parade has been a favorite community tradition for over 20 years,” Sawicki said in a press release about the event. “It’s the perfect opportunity to gather with friends and family, support our amazing businesses in town, and of course, enjoy all the Irish-festivities that the day has to offer.”
