Get out your “Kiss Me I’m Irish” buttons out because Forest Park is kicking off St. Patty’s Day in style.
The village is expecting about 8,000 to 10,000 people to pack the sidewalks along Madison Street to watch more than 70 floats, marchers, bands and others go by, according to Laurie Kokenes, executive director of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce.
One of the star attractions is always the Proviso East High School marching band. Other crowd pleasers include the Medinah parade units, Police and Fire Bagpipers, a stilt Walker, clowns, pets, Irish dancers and, of course, fire engines with their sirens wailing.
New this year will be the Hamburglar and Grimace sponsored by the McDonalds at Desplaines and Madison, and the Chicago White Sox Southpaw which, according to the Sox website, is “a 6’4” fuzzy green dude who weighs 621 baseballs.”
Kids love those entries and will bring shopping bags along with them to fill with candy and swag that will be handed out as the parade goes by.
Kokenes said that the Chamber of Commerce holds the parade two weeks before the actual St, Paddy’s Day, because folks like the bagpipe bands all tend to be booked up on the actual date commemorating the Irish saint, and “to drive business to Forest Park before the official St. Patrick’s Day weekend.”
In that regard, the bars along Madison Street will have a good day.
Heidi Vance, co-owner of Team Blonde, a boutique and spa, said that what she is hoping for is exposure. She said she will make sure that her windows have attractive displays so that as bar hoppers pass by her store, they will make mental notes to return.
Kokenes said that although the Chamber of Commerce orchestrates the parade, the event is successful because many supporters pitch in time, talent and money.
“As with any event we host,” she said, “sponsors are key to making the parade happen. A huge thanks to this year’s Title Sponsors: Village of Forest Park, O’Sullivan’s Public House; Ironworkers Local 1, Rework Office Furniture and Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch and Liuna Local One.”
She listed more than 20 other businesses, organizations and individuals who are supporting the event in one way or another.
Other organizations support the parade with time and talent. Sal Stella, the Director of Forest Park’s Department of Public works, for example, said, “public works is all-hands-on-deck for the event – 14 fulltime guys and me.”
Chief of Police Ken Gross said a security plan is in place. The fire department is also prepared.
“The Forest Park Police Department,” he said, “does have concerns about a number of potential problems that we could encounter on parade day and are prepared to face them all efficiently and effectively.”
“Together with the village and other key organizations, we all work together to keep Forest Park strong,” Kokenes said.
