Leprechauns, shamrocks and Irish dancers: See them all in St. Charles
Shamrocks and bagpipes and leprechauns on dirt bikes.
Leprechauns on dirt bikes? Yes, you'll see that, and much more at this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in St. Charles, which will step off at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7.
"I have five leprechauns this year," said Mike Riebe, who's been entertaining parade crowds for the past four years.
Riding a variety of custom-made machines, dressed in green-dyed tuxedos, this group of friends will provide pre-parade entertainment, as they zoom along the parade route in front of the 80 participants scheduled to appear, this year.
"You won't be able to miss us," said Riebe, who, when not busy creating and building machines for the parade, runs his own business, Mr. Heating and Cooling, in St. Charles.
The parade will begin on Main Street (Route 64) at Sixth Street, and head east along Main, through downtown St. Charles and across the Fox River, and end at Fourth Avenue.
Among the regulars in this year's parade will be bagpipers, Girl Scout and Cub Scout troops, Model A cars and Corvettes, local high school marching bands, several dance troops and cheerleaders, the Weinermobile courtesy of St. Patrick Catholic School, Chicago radio station personalities, and more, with the ever-popular South Shore Drill Team as the finale.
New participants will include Greek dancers, courtesy of the Odyssey Restaurant in St. Charles, as well as an elaborate float from Real Time Sports Bar Entertainment and Grill, which is the lead sponsor of this year's parade.
As this year happens to be an election year, several politicians and candidates will make appearances, including current St. Charles Mayor Don DeWitte, his opponent Jotham Stein; Colleen Lang, who is running for St. Charles township assessor; and even a giant ersatz elephant.
Real live animals will also make an appearance again, this year, thanks to the Kane County Mounted Rangers and members of local 4-H clubs.
Former Chicago Bulls center Bill Wennington is this year's Grand Marshal. Following the parade, he will sign autographs and greet patrons at Real Time, located at the corner of Prairie and Randall roads in St. Charles.
Real Time's association with the St. Patrick's Day parade is fitting, as the parents of Shamus Connelly, whose family co-owns the St. Charles pub, emigrated here from Ireland, before Shamus was born.
This year's parade is produced once again by the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce. Debbie Treutler of the Chamber, who organized the event, encourages folks to pick viewing spots up the hill from the St. Charles City Hall at 2. E. Main St., where judging of the floats will take place.
"It gets very crowded there, from City Hall to McNally's Irish Pub," said Treutler, "so it's best to watch from farther west, like the Lincoln Park area (between Fourth and Fifth streets)."
Treutler also invites parents of any participating children in marching bands, dance troops, scout troops, or other groups, to get involved in the parade as banner carriers and pacers.
If you'd like to walk along in the parade, give Treutler a call at the Chamber, (630) 584-8384.
Wondering where to park? Beginning at 1 p.m., free shuttles to the parade, courtesy of Spare Wheels, will be available from the Real Time Sports Bar parking lot at 584 S. Randall Road - at the site of the former Bud's bar/restaurant.
Following the parade, the shuttles will bring parade-goers back to Real Time to meet Wennington, and enjoy an Irish buffet and live music.
For additional information, visit the Chamber's Web site at www.stcharleschamber.com, and click on "Event Calendar."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Before the parade </p> <p class="News">Parade-goers may want to come downtown early to enjoy a lively and exciting performance of Irish dance at the Arcada Theatre, presented by five local troupes: Copeland Dance, McNulty Irish Dancers, St. Charles School of Dance, Third Street Dance, and Underground Arts Connection Performance. </p> <p class="News">Admission is $15. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the performance begins at 11:15. </p> <p class="News">The Arcada is at 105 E. Main St. For information call the Arcada Theatre, (630) 587-8400 or the Chamber office, (630) 584-8384.</p>