Chicago’s South Side Irish Parade will step off March 15 at noon from 103rd and Western, continuing a 47-year tradition that organizers say reflects the neighborhood’s faith, family, and heritage.
This year’s parade will feature the Tunnels to Towers Foundation as grand marshal, a selection organizers describe as a tribute to the nonprofit’s ongoing support for first responders and their families. The foundation, created in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, has expanded its mission nationwide, including in Chicago, where it has paid off mortgages for fallen police officers’ families and built specially adapted “smart homes” for injured first responders.
Jim Smith, a member of the South Side Irish Parade Committee, said the decision to honor Tunnels to Towers was rooted in its direct impact on the Beverly and surrounding communities.
“They’re doing unbelievable work,” Smith said. “They’ve paid off several mortgages of officers killed in the line of duty in our area and are currently building a smart home for an officer seriously wounded in the line of duty.”
The foundation’s work intersects with another honoree this year, St. Christina Parish, which marks its 100th anniversary. Organizers note that a large percentage of families connected to the parish school are first responders, further reinforcing the parade’s focus on service and neighborhood identity.
Founded in 1979 by local residents George Henry and Pat Oakley, the parade began as a small neighborhood march and has grown into one of Chicago’s most recognizable St. Patrick’s season events. Unlike downtown parades often led by elected officials, organizers say the South Side Irish Parade prioritizes community groups, local schools, and honorees at the front of the lineup.
Politicians are permitted to participate but are placed toward the rear of the procession, according to organizers.
More than 100 parade units are expected this year, including marching bands from area high schools and local athletic teams. Organizers will also recognize several recent state champions from South Side schools, including football, volleyball, wrestling, and cheer teams.
Smith described the event as one of the most significant days of the year for many neighborhood families, with former residents returning from across the country to celebrate.
“It’s good for business. It’s good for the city. It’s a great thing for our heritage,” he said.
In addition to the parade, organizers are selling commemorative T-shirts and posters designed by local artist and Chicago firefighter Tim McCarthy. Proceeds from those sales will benefit the Tunnels to Towers Foundation.
The parade will begin at noon on March 15, proceeding through the Beverly neighborhood. Organizers emphasize that while the celebration includes traditional Irish music and festivities, the event remains rooted in its original values of community pride and support for local families.
For residents and former South Siders alike, the annual march represents more than a seasonal celebration — it is, organizers say, a reaffirmation of neighborhood identity and the enduring connection between public service and community life on Chicago’s South Side.