guides

Family-Friendly Things to Do in Chicago for St. Patrick's Day 2024

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By Debra Flanagan, Macaroni KID Chicago Northside February 21, 2024

This Guide is generously sponsored by your local Culver's locations 
at 1111 W. Addison Street (Wrigleyville) and 1819 W. Montrose Avenue (Ravenswood.)
Whether we’re cooking the perfect ButterBurger® to order or scooping up our freshest batch of the Flavor of the Day, we work hard to ensure you will always leave happy.



  Each Kids' Meal comes with a certificate for a free scoop of Fresh Frozen Custard  


My daughter informed me that St. Patrick's Day is the equivalent of Christmas to her, so I went on a desperate search of things to do to celebrate!


PARADES

Avondale St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 16th 10am

The Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade and River Dying
March 16th 12:15pm (River Dying at 10am)

Southside Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 17th 12pm - 3pm

Northwest Side Irish Parade
March 17th 12pm


PARTIES

Edison Park Irish Sunday Funday
Edison Park is turning green on Sunday, March 10th! Come and support our local businesses. From live Irish music to green deals, you won't want to be anywhere else!
March 10th 11am - 10pm

St. Patrick's Day at Gallagher Way
Enjoy traditional, live Irish music and Irish dance performances by the Trinity Irish Dancers, as well as kid-friendly entertainment like face painting, balloon artists, a magician, and other arts & crafts! While you’re shamrock-ing and rolling to authentic Irish music, make sure you grab a glass of our green beer, Irish coffee, hot chocolate, or specialty cocktails to sip on while playing your favorite lawn games on the green space.
March 10th 11am - 3pm

Chief O'Neill's St. Patrick Fest 
Live music, Irish dancing, and Irish food buffets
March 15th, 16th, and 17th

St. Patrick's Fest 2024, Irish American Heritage Center
The festivities follow the downtown parade and are packed with traditional and contemporary Irish music, dance, food and drink for purchase, children’s activities presented by Irish Community Services – including Wiggleworms performances, a day of Irish Dance Schools in the Mayfair Theatre, the Shannon Rovers, and an Arts and Craft Fair, with vendors selling Irish gifts.
March 16th and 17th


THEMED DINING

Charm'd, Lakeview
The Magical Irish Pop-Up is an enchanting, over-the-top, multi-room, multi-level magical Irish experience. Featuring wall-to-wall Irish decor, lucky charms, multiple bars, social photo-ops, festive menu, and a whole lot of leprechaun mischief! Charm'd is 21+ after certain hours. Call ahead to bring the kids. They will love it.
February 21st -  March 24th

R Public House, Rogers Park
Enjoy a traditional Irish menu and sing along to some Irish classics.
March 16th

Wild Fire St. Patrick's Day Corned Beef Plate, River North
Get in the St. Patrick’s spirit!  Enjoy the Corned Beef & Cabbage Plate and Chocolate Stout Cake. The specials will be available for dine-in and carry-out after 3:00 PM on Friday and Saturday and all day on Sunday.
March 15th - 17th

Schoolhouse Kitchen and Studio, Bucktown and Portage Park locations
Menu:Spotted Dog Scones
This class is for ages 2.5 and up. Come celebrate St. Patty's day by making Spotted Dog Scones with choice of raisins or chocolate chips.
While our scones bake we will read "How to Catch a Leprechaun". This is a caregiver and child class, please register each person in your party. No one will be sitting on the sidelines!  
$25/family member
March 17th


LIGHT DISPLAYS

The Disco Tree, Edgewater
Free light display.
Winona and Paulina


KID CLASSES

Pot of Gold Cake Pops - Class for Kids
Schoolhouse Kitchen and Studio, Portage Park
These cake pops are so fun to make! Using cake, buttercream and melting chocolate, and a few other Leprechaun tricks, students will form their own cauldrons that are overflowing with gold and a rainbow!
March 2nd, 10am


Go Get Your Luck On! 

(Check back for updates each week.)