10 Illinois Towns That Go All-Out For St. Patrick’s Day
Illinois has a deep and genuine love for St. Patrick’s Day, and it goes way beyond wearing green. Every March in Illinois, familiar streets take on a different personality as bagpipes echo between storefronts and parade crowds gather along chilly sidewalks long before the first float appears.
The celebrations feel rooted in real community traditions, shaped by generations of residents who return year after year to mark the holiday in their own neighborhoods.
I have spent years chasing these celebrations across the state, noticing how each town adds its own character and local pride to the occasion.
Some events draw enormous crowds, while others feel closer and more personal, but each one leaves a lasting impression. This list highlights places where the holiday comes alive in memorable ways and where the Irish spirit shows up in full force every March.
1. Chicago, Illinois
Few cities on Earth commit to St. Patrick’s Day quite like Chicago does. The city dyes the Chicago River a brilliant shade of green every year, a tradition that started back in 1962 when a plumber used dye to trace pollution in the waterway and accidentally sparked one of the most iconic holiday rituals in the country.
The river stays green for several hours, drawing massive crowds to the downtown bridges for a front-row view.
The city also hosts one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the United States, running along Columbus Drive in Grant Park.
Bagpipe bands, Irish step dancers, floats, and local dignitaries make the procession a full spectacle. Thousands of people line the route, many dressed head to toe in green, shamrocks, and kilts.
Downtown riverfront areas and nearby parks fill with visitors gathering to watch the river dyeing and parade festivities throughout the weekend. The energy downtown is electric and contagious.
If you only visit one Illinois city for St. Patrick’s Day, Chicago makes a strong case for being the top choice every single time.
2. Naperville, Illinois
Naperville may be known as one of the most livable cities in America, but every March it earns a new title: one of the most festive.
The downtown Riverwalk area becomes the heart of the St. Patrick’s Day action, with visitors gathering along the DuPage River while local shops join in with themed window displays and specials.
The city organizes a community parade that winds through the charming downtown streets, giving families a perfect reason to bundle up and cheer from the sidewalk.
Irish dancers, marching bands, and colorful floats make the procession lively and entertaining for all ages. Kids especially love spotting the themed floats and grabbing candy tossed from passing groups.
What makes Naperville stand out is how the whole community seems to participate. Local restaurants serve up Irish-inspired menus, and many businesses decorate their storefronts with shamrocks and leprechaun hats.
The atmosphere feels warm, welcoming, and genuinely celebratory. Naperville proves that you do not need to be a major metro to throw a St. Patrick’s Day celebration that leaves a lasting impression on every visitor.
3. St. Charles, Illinois
St. Charles has a knack for turning its already-beautiful downtown into something truly magical during the St. Patrick’s Day season.
The historic streets along the Fox River get dressed up with green banners and Irish-themed decorations, creating a backdrop that feels like it belongs on a postcard. The river itself adds a natural charm that makes the whole setting feel extra special.
The town hosts a St. Patrick’s Day parade that draws participants and spectators from across the Fox Valley region. Community groups, local businesses, school bands, and Irish cultural organizations all take part, making it a genuinely grassroots celebration.
The parade route passes through the heart of downtown, giving onlookers a great view of the action from both sides of the street.
After the parade, many visitors explore the boutique shops, galleries, and cafes that line First Street and Second Street. Shop owners often stay in the spirit with themed merchandise and green window displays.
St. Charles has a small-town warmth that makes its St. Patrick’s Day feel personal and inviting rather than overwhelming. It is a wonderful spot for families and couples looking for a festive but relaxed way to mark the holiday.
4. Elmhurst, Illinois
Elmhurst brings a neighborhood charm to St. Patrick’s Day that feels refreshingly genuine. This DuPage County city has been hosting its own St. Patrick’s Day parade for decades, and the event has grown into one of the most beloved traditions in the western suburbs.
Spring Road becomes a festive parade route for floats, bands, and community groups decked out in every shade of green imaginable.
The parade typically draws large crowds from across the western suburbs, which is impressive for a city of Elmhurst’s size. What makes it so popular is the strong sense of local pride baked into every float and marching group.
Many participants have been in the parade for years, and you can feel that generational connection in the crowd’s enthusiasm.
The Spring Road area buzzes with activity before and after the parade.Restaurants and shops along Spring Road embrace the holiday with Irish-themed menus and decorations that make wandering the area part of the experience.
Elmhurst also has beautiful residential neighborhoods nearby, making it a pleasant place to walk around after the festivities wind down. For a suburban St. Patrick’s Day that feels big in spirit, Elmhurst consistently delivers.
5. Lemont, Illinois
Lemont has one of the most unique St. Patrick’s Day identities in all of Illinois, and it comes down to one word: heritage. The town has a deep Irish-American history rooted in the immigrant workers who helped dig the Illinois and Michigan Canal in the 1800s.
Many of those workers were Irish, and their legacy is still celebrated with pride every March in this charming Will County community.
The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Lemont is a community institution. The procession moves through the historic downtown district, past limestone buildings that have stood for over a century, giving the whole event a sense of deep historical weight.
Local Irish organizations, pipe bands, and school groups all march together in a show of collective pride that feels earned rather than performative.
Lemont’s downtown is compact and walkable, which makes it easy to enjoy the full experience without rushing. After the parade, visitors often explore the antique shops and local eateries that give the town its character.
The combination of real Irish-American history and a tight-knit community spirit makes Lemont one of the most meaningful places in Illinois to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. It is a hidden gem in the best possible sense.
6. Forest Park, Illinois
Forest Park punches well above its weight when it comes to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. This small Cook County village just west of Chicago has built a reputation for hosting a parade that draws crowds far larger than its population might suggest.
Madison Street, the main commercial strip, transforms into a sea of green every year, and the energy is genuinely contagious from the moment you arrive.
The Forest Park St. Patrick’s Day parade is known for its inclusive, neighborhood feel. You will see everyone from toddlers in green tutus to grandparents in shamrock sweaters lining the curb.
Local businesses, civic organizations, and school groups all have a presence in the procession, making it feel like a true community effort rather than a corporate production.
One thing I love about Forest Park is how easy it is to get there. The CTA Blue Line stops right in town, which means you can leave the car behind and fully enjoy the festivities.
After the parade, the local restaurants along Madison Street fill up quickly with happy crowds soaking in the last of the afternoon fun. Forest Park is proof that small towns can throw celebrations with enormous heart and personality.
7. Rockford, Illinois
Rockford brings a bold, blue-collar energy to St. Patrick’s Day that is hard to find anywhere else in northern Illinois. The city’s parade has been a fixture on the local calendar for many years, drawing participants from across the region and giving the downtown area a lively boost every March.
State Street and the surrounding blocks fill up with spectators eager to catch the marching bands, floats, and Irish dancers rolling through.
The Rock River adds a scenic backdrop to the celebration, especially on clear late-winter days when the light hits the water just right. Rockford has invested heavily in revitalizing its downtown in recent years, and St. Patrick’s Day is one of the events that showcases that renewed energy.
New restaurants and venues have started embracing the holiday in creative ways, adding fresh layers to what was already a solid tradition.
Some local venues and restaurants occasionally host Irish-themed events around the parade date, adding to the festive atmosphere.
The city’s size makes it feel like a real urban celebration without the overwhelming crowds of Chicago. Rockford is an underrated St. Patrick’s Day destination that deserves a spot on every Illinois holiday road trip itinerary.
8. Palatine, Illinois
Palatine is the kind of northwest suburban town that takes its St. Patrick’s Day seriously without taking itself too seriously, and that balance is exactly what makes it so enjoyable.
Downtown Palatine becomes a gathering point on parade day as residents and visitors line the streets for the annual St. Patrick’s celebration.
The celebration often includes Irish music, dancing, and family-friendly activities that make the event accessible to everyone.
Local organizations and cultural groups bring authenticity to the event, and the community’s enthusiasm is visible in the decorated storefronts and green outfits that seem to multiply by the hour.
One practical bonus of celebrating in Palatine is the easy Metra access from Chicago, which makes it a natural stop on a suburban St. Patrick’s Day tour. The downtown restaurant scene is solid, with several spots offering Irish-inspired menus and festive specials throughout the week.
Palatine has a way of making everyone feel like a local, even if you are just visiting for the day. That welcoming spirit is what keeps people coming back year after year for the celebration.
9. Chicago South Side Irish Neighborhood, Illinois
The South Side Irish Parade in Chicago is a completely different experience from the downtown celebration, and many locals will tell you it is the more authentic of the two.
Centered in the Beverly and Morgan Park neighborhoods, this parade runs along Western Avenue and draws an enormous crowd of Irish-American families who have been attending for generations. The sense of community pride here is almost tangible.
The parade was actually paused for a few years due to crowd management concerns before returning in a more organized format. Its comeback was met with overwhelming enthusiasm, which tells you everything about how much this event means to the people who live in this part of the city.
Many families set up lawn chairs along the route hours before the procession begins, staking out their favorite spots like seasoned veterans.
The Beverly neighborhood itself is worth exploring beyond the parade. It has beautiful historic homes, independent shops, and a strong Irish-American cultural identity that makes the whole area feel like a celebration of heritage rather than just a holiday.
If you want to experience St. Patrick’s Day the way Chicago’s South Side has celebrated it for decades, Western Avenue is exactly where you need to be on parade day.
10. Aurora, Illinois
Aurora wraps its St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the kind of community warmth that makes you want to stay long after the last float passes by. Aurora hosts a growing St. Patrick’s Day celebration each year, including a downtown parade that brings together local groups and spectators.
The Fox River runs right through the heart of the city, giving the whole celebration a picturesque setting that adds to the festive mood.
The parade winds through historic downtown streets near landmarks like the Paramount Theatre and Stolp Island. Seeing Irish dancers and bagpipe bands move through streets lined with century-old buildings creates a visual contrast that is genuinely striking.
Local schools, community organizations, and cultural groups all participate, making the procession feel deeply rooted in the city’s identity.
Aurora’s diverse population brings a unique flavor to the celebration, with different communities joining in to honor the Irish holiday in their own ways. That multicultural enthusiasm gives the event a warmth and inclusivity that stands out.
After the parade, Stolp Island and the Riverwalk area offer a relaxing place to unwind and reflect on a day well spent celebrating one of Illinois’s finest St. Patrick’s Day traditions.