ST. PAT’S PARADE PRIMER
Planning on attending this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations? This is what you need to know.
This year’s official festivities start at 9 a. m. with the dyeing of the Chicago River. Those who want the best view to watch the river go green should head to the east side of Michigan Avenue, the west side of Columbus Drive or upper and lower Wacker Drive between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive.
After the river turns green, the 62nd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is scheduled to start at noon at Balbo and Columbus. It will head north on Columbus Drive, passing the viewing stand in front of the Buckingham Fountain, and end at Monroe.
If you’re taking the CTA Blue or Red lines, get off at any of the Loop stations and walk east to Columbus Drive. If you’re riding the Brown, Green or Orange lines, exit at any of the stops along Wabash and walk east to Columbus Drive.
If you’re arriving on Metra, it’s about 10 blocks to Columbus Drive from Union Station or Ogilvie, and several CTA bus routes make the trip. Check
transit chicago. com for details. Metra’s La Salle Street station is on Congress Parkway, about seven blocks west of Buckingham Fountain, while Metra’s Millennium Park station is right on Michigan Avenue, a few blocks north andwest of the end of the parade route.
For those driving, underground parking is available at Grant Park. Various privately owned garages are in the area, as well as street parking along Wells between Lake and Van Buren and on Wabash, from Lake to Congress.
Park near Randolph and you’ll be right in between the river dyeing and the parade route.
The celebrations continue Sunday at noon with the 2017 South Side Irish Parade. The family- friendly parade on Western Avenue — with a zero- tolerance policy for public alcohol consumption— will begin at 103rd Street and continue south to 115th Street.
Parking restrictions will begin at 6 a. m. on Western Avenue and 8 a. m. on side streets. From 6 a. m. through 3 p. m., there will be no street parking allowed on Western Avenue from 99th to 119th streets.
From 8 a. m. through 3 p. m., no street parking is allowed on the east side of Artesian from 103rd to 111th. Expect some segments on all east and west streets leading to Western Avenue between 103rd and 115th to be closed near Western. Only residents will be allowed to park in the area surrounding the parade. Email: asalcedo@suntimes.com Twitter: @salcedonews