Next Saturday, downtown Naperville is set to turn a whole lot greener as the West Suburban Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off at 10:00 a.m. from Naperville North High School, rolls through Jefferson and Main, and wraps up near Naperville Central High School. Parade chair Rich Janor said organizers are expecting roughly 10,000 spectators for the 33rd annual event, with traditional Irish dance schools, bagpipe and drum bands, dozens of floats, marching groups and local businesses all joining the procession.
Parade preview
According to the Chicago Tribune, this year's parade will feature about 100 entries, and organizers are preparing for roughly 10,000 spectators along the route. Local event listings confirm that the West Suburban Irish presents the family-friendly procession and that registrations and sponsorships are still open ahead of the weekend's march. For step off times and entry details, check the community post on Patch.
Route and staging
The parade will step off from the Naperville North lot at the corner of Ogden Avenue and Mill Street, then run south on Mill to Jefferson, turn east through downtown, head south on Main and finish along Porter Avenue near Naperville Central, per the West Suburban Irish route posting. City traffic control maps from recent years outline early no-parking zones and rolling street closures along the corridor, so attendees should allow extra travel time and check posted signs on parade morning for tow notices and temporary restrictions. The City of Naperville provides staging maps and closure notes in its traffic control plan.
Grand marshal and honors
Longtime volunteer Eddie Curley has been named grand marshal for this year's parade, with organizers praising his decades of service to the West Suburban Irish and local charities. Coverage highlights Curley's community work with West Suburban Irish programs and other Naperville groups, including his role with the trip-to-Ireland raffle and volunteer coordination. The parade will also hand out the Kevin Dolan Founder's Award for best overall entry, along with prizes for best new entry, best business and best nonprofit, as noted by Positively Naperville and NCTV17.
How to see it
The parade follows Naperville's St. Paddy's Day 5K, so expect heavier foot traffic downtown and limited curbside parking early in the morning. The 5K listing is available on Naperville.com. Visitors are encouraged to use Metra, downtown parking garages or ride-shares and to arrive early to lock down a good viewing spot. For official staging maps, posted tow and no-parking details and the latest closure information, consult the parade organizer's event page and the City of Naperville before you head out.
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