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Message from the Chamber

This Saturday is St. Patty’s in Forest Park

LAURIE KOKENES DIRECTOR

We’re not expecting half a million people like they are in Dublin, but attendance at our St Patrick’s Day Parade is just as impressive for a town of our size…and we’re celebrating 30 years next year!

We host the parade early in March (typically two weekends before St. Patrick’s Day weekend) for a couple of reasons: to help ensure we don’t compete with local or city parades for entrants or attendance, and to drive business to Forest Park before the ‘ofﬁcial’ St Patrick’s Day/St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

People often remark that the weather would be better if we moved the date up,

but that’s not how Chicago-area weather rolls. For example, we’ve had 70-degree weather on parade day, with temperatures in the 20’s the following Saturday Over the last 29 years, it ’s gone the other way of course, but Forest Park St Pat’s Parade Day parade-goers are in it for the long haul so we always have a great turnout. So, regardless of the weather, we hope to see you there!

As with any event we host, sponsors are key to making the parade happen. Their support allows us create an entertaining line-up that includes entries like Medinah Shriner ’s parade units who receive an honorarium for participating. Event sponsorship also supports the overall work of the Chamber

Huge thanks to this year’s main sponsors: Title Sponsors: Village of Forest Park, O’Sullivan’s Public House; Ironworkers

L Emanuel ‘Chris’ Sponsor: Riveredge Hospital. Sponsors: Mohr Oil, McDonald’s Forest Park, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Republic Services, Fatduck Tavern and Grill, Currie Motors, Burke Beverage, Grand Appliance, U3 Coffee, Progress Center for Independent Living and Our Planet Automotive. Shamrock Sponsors: Grace Lutheran Church, The Original Hooters, Chicago White Sox, The Giving

Robert’s Westside, Park District of Forest Park and Charlie’s Restaurant.

Thanks also to every single member of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce for their support. Together with the Village and other key organizations, we all work together to keep Forest Park strong. Happy parade day and happy St Patrick’s Day to all!

Parade day is Saturday! St. Patrick would be proud

Last

year Forest Park drew 8,000 Irish and sort-of

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

Forty years ago Forest Park sold itself to potential home buyers and business owners by saying that the village had “Big City Access.” In those four decades the table has turned a bit. Now the town between Harlem and the Desplaines River is a destination for people coming from the big city.

“Last year’s parade,” said Laurie Kokenes, director of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce which sponsors the annual event, “drew 8,000 spectators to Madison Street.”

The attraction is 70 different groups marching including the following headliners: the Proviso Marching Band; the Band

Irish guests

of Brothers and Doonaree Pipe Bands (both of which are sponsored by Burke Beverage); Irish Dancers from the Bentley Academy and the Foy School; a float by the Chicago White Sox; the Stone Cold Killers Band; the Triton Troupers Circus and the Medinah Mini Choppers, Roaring 57s and Motor Cor p.

What makes it a hometown happening are groups representing 21 local businesses, and 17 schools, churches and nonprofits. April Baker Homes will be the Grand Marshall, a role she won by outbidding the competition at the Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting auction. Ironworkers Local 1, People for Emmanuel Chris Welch, Laborers Local One and O’Sullivan’s Public House each contributed $1,500 to become Pot of Gold Sponsors. Nonprofits kicked in $50 for a spot in the parade, Chamber business members $65, and political and nonmember $120.

First responders from the Forest Park Fire and Police Departments will have places of honor. The parade will step of f on Saturday at 1 pm. The parade route on Madison Street will begin at Van Buren on the west and end at Elgin. The quiet, siren-free zone will extend from Van Buren to Desplaines.