Best Irish Concerts & Festivals In Chicago

You might almost think you're in Ireland when in Chicago in March. You continually hear "Erin go bragh" (Ireland forever). If attending a party or walking into a bar, you will likely hear "Slainte" toasts (health) and "Cead Mile Failte" (pronounced kayd meela fawit-cha) meaning 1,000,000 welcomes. Even several Chicago buildings sport a green aura. But don't worry about remembering phrases or missing a celebration. Merely wear something green, go into almost any pub and check out some of these festivals, because Irish celebrations happen throughout the month in Chicago where everyone claims to be at least a little bit Irish.

Downtown Chicago Parade And River Dyeing
Chicago River at Michigan Avenue to Grant Park on Columbus Drive between Balboa and Monroe Drives
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 942-9188
www.choosechicago.com

Date: Mar. 12, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. for river dyeing and noon for the parade

Chicago is famous for turning the Chicago River green to start its St. Patrick's Day festival the Saturday before the saint's recognized March 17 date. Crowds jam railings along the river on Upper and Lower Wacker Driver and along the Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive bridges at least half an hour before the greening of the river. A boat crammed with officials adds a concoction that no other city has supposedly developed to turn the river green. Then, folks typically look for a cafe to relax in until noon, when they hear the blare of bagpipes. Crowds then flock to Grant Park east of Michigan Avenue, where they cheer gaily decorated floats, talented Irish dancers and wave to US, state and local politicians. Chicago's St. Patrick's Day parade moves north from Balboa Drive to Monroe Drive on the east side of the Art Institute of Chicago. Sponsored by Chicago Plumbers Local 130 U.A for more than 60 years, the parade is said to be the largest of it kind in the U.S. After the parade, people typically continue their celebration at nearby pubs or the Irish American Heritage Center.

Date: Mar. 12, 2016 at 1 p.m.

Even if you don't do the parade you should check out the food, drink, songs, music and dancing at the Irish-American Heritage Center. And bring the kids; this festival is family-friendly. There is an arts and crafts fair, children's activities and the event features such traditional performers as the Shannon Rovers, an Irish pipe band. In addition, dance troops from the O'Hare School of Irish Dance, the Trinity Irish Dancers and the Mullane Healy Godley Irish Dance Academy perform throughout the day. Visitors can also stop in the center's museum and library. The festival goes until midnight. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 day of, and there's no charge for youngsters 12 and under.

Date: Mar. 8, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.)

Founded in 1846 and its building dedicated in 1856, Old St. Patrick's Church is a hub of not just Irish and Catholic gatherings but also community activities. But it holds its annual St. Patrick's Day music tribute at Chicago Symphony Center. The theme this year is "The Women of the Rising: Pathways to Peace" to mark the 100th anniversary of Ireland's independence from England, known as "The Rising." This year's event features the Metropolis Symphony Orchestra and Old St. Patrick's Concert Choir. Performers include instrumentalists Sean Ryan, Jimmy Moore and John Williams and singers Catherine O'Connell, Roderick Dixon and Gavin Coyle. The Trinity Irish Dancers are also on the program. Tickets are needed.

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Mar. 13, 2016 at noon

Begun in 1969 by a couple of families, the parade grew in popularity from a few participants to an almost unwieldy 15,000 participants and 250,000 spectators by 2009, making it the largest neighborhood St. Pats parade outside of Ireland. The tendency of spectators to imbibe while watching and leaving trash and bus loads of spectators disrupting the neighborhood led to its shut down in 2010. So many people protested that the parade re-opened in 2012 with new rules: zero-tolerance for alcohol, special locations for groups to park and added security power. It still has hundreds of participants and crowds of about 150,000 along Western Avenue, but it is back to being family-oriented. However, spectators typically toast St. Patrick's Day in the Irish pubs on Western Avenue shortly after the parade.

For beautiful Celtic sounds, head to Rosemont Theatre on Chicago's western border by O'Hare International Airport. Celtic Woman, a four-member female ensemble, will have finished its European tour in February to perform in the Midwest in March. The group, organized by David Kavangah, David Downes and Sharon Browne, has changed members since forming in 2004, except for fiddler Malread Nesbitt. The vocalists currently are Mairead Carlin, Susan McFadden and Eabha McMahon. They are glorious to hear and have stunned listeners with their voices and musical talent everywhere they have performed.

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Jodie Jacobs is a veteran journalist who loves writing about Chicago, art, theater, museums and travel. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.