Celebrations of Irish culture in the Southland that were shelved last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic are coming back in person this weekend.
Tinley Park’s annual Irish Parade, which marked its 21st year in 2020, steps off at 1 p.m. Sunday from 179th Street and Oak Park Avenue, continuing north through the downtown business district to 172nd Street.
The parade typically draws thousands of spectators and includes school marching bands, pipes and drums groups, businesses, churches, civic organizations and politicians.
“We are thrilled to bring back our Irish parade this year,” Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz said. “The weather looks terrific for a parade.”
The outlook for this weekend’s events is promising, with a high approaching 60 degrees Saturday and in the low 50s Sunday, with minimal chances of rain, according to the National Weather Service.
Before the start of the parade, there will be an Irish tea with scones, Irish soda bread and Irish music from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Tinley Park Park District’s Vogt Visual Arts Center, 17420 S. 67th Court.
Oak Forest Fleadh, that suburb’s Irish festival, will start Saturday with a 5K race beginning at 8:30 a.m., with the start and finish line near Oak Forest Bowl, 15240 S. Cicero Ave. Fleadh is Gaelic for “festival” and pronounced “flah.”
The race will be followed by the family parade at 11 a.m., which begins at Oak Forest High School, 152nd Street and Central Avenue, and continues south to the Oak Forest Park District offices at 15601 S. Central.
During the 5K, street closures will be in effect, according to the city, with the areas most impacted including 149th and 156th streets from Long to Lacrosse avenues.
During the parade, street closures will affect Central Avenue from 151st to 157th Street, according to the city.
In Manhattan, the Irish American Society of County Will celebrates the 28th Manhattan Irish Fest on Friday and Saturday.
The fest serves as a fundraiser for the society, which provides scholarships to high school students.
Music and performances of Irish dance at the entertainment area will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and noon until 10 p.m. Saturday. The entertainment area is north of the Manhattan Fire Protection District station at 100 S. Park Road.
Buttons to gain access to the entertainment area are on sale for $10, through Thursday, at various businesses in the community as well as at Village Hall. On the days of the fest the buttons sell for $15.
The Prairie State Roadrunners will start off the Saturday parade with a 5k run, with the parade stepping off after the race and starting at Thelma Street and East North Street and ending near Anna McDonald School, 200 Second St.
Other activities include a craft fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the gymnasium of Manhattan Junior High, 15606 W. Smith Road.
Canceled last year due to the pandemic, the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Chicago’s Southwest Side is scheduled to start at noon March 13 at 103rd Street and Western Avenue, and continuing south to 115th Street.