Shamrock Our Blocks Decorating Contest Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day
You could almost hear the collective sigh of disappointment across the community when it was announced that this year’s South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade was cancelled for the second year in a row. Luck for us, the South Side Irish Parade Committee has a great new idea for spreading St. Patrick’s Day joy and supporting local businesses: The Shamrock Our Blocks outdoor house decorating contest.
By now, many people have already strung up their green lights, placed shamrocks in their windows and devised all manner of creative ways to Shamrock their little portion of the Block, but for those who haven’t, you must be registered at www.southsideirishparade.org and have your entry photos uploaded to info@southsideirishparade.org on Mar. 4.
But Shamrock Our Blocks is not just about South Side Irish pride, it’s about helping local businesses that, for the second year, are losing important revenue because the parade is not marching down Western Avenue.
“Each year the South Side Irish Parade draws thousands of people to our community, driving both advance and day of parade purchases at many businesses throughout the area,” said Tim McSweeney, Chair of the South Side Irish Parade Committee. “The committee wanted to create a plan that gives back to local businesses, as well as offering a family-friendly festive way to celebrate St. Patrick’s day this year,”
The Parade committee encourages everyone to creatively decorate the outside of their homes with a St. Patrick’s Day theme and become part of this new tradition. Prizes for the best Shamrock Our Blocks entries will focus on supporting local businesses: Grand Prize is $1,000 cash plus $1,000 in local businesses gift cards; 2nd prize is $1,000 in local business gift cards; and 3rd, 4th and 5th prizes are each $500 dollars in local business gift cards.
Everyone is welcome to enter the exterior house decorating contest. To enter, simply decorate the exterior of your home, register at www.southsideirishparade.org, snap a photo, and upload it to the Parade Committee at info@southsideirishparade.org Entries must be registered and uploaded by Mar. 4. The registration fee is $20 and includes a yard sign.
For those wishing to show local businesses their support without entering the house decorating contest, Shamrock Our Blocks yard signs are available for purchase for $20. Proceeds from the contest and the yard signs will support local businesses.
Virtual judging will take place based on entry photos. Winners will be announced on the South Side Irish Parade Facebook page on Sat., Mar. 13.
For more information go to www.southsideirishparade.org or the South Side Irish Parade Facebook page.
The South Side Irish Parade is operated by the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Heritage Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Each year the parade is supported by major sponsors including Paddy’s Irish Whiskey, Lakeshore Beverage, The Beverly Review, Raising Cane’s, IUOE Local 399, IUOE Local 150, Chicago White Sox, Flood Brothers, ComEd, County Fair Foods and South Side Irish Imports.
