Illinois has a deep and genuine love for St. Patrick’s Day, and it goes way beyond wearing green. Every March in Illinois, familiar streets take on a different personality as bagpipes echo between storefronts and parade crowds gather along chilly sidewalks long before the first float appears.
The celebrations feel rooted in real community traditions, shaped by generations of residents who return year after year to mark the holiday in their own neighborhoods.
I have spent years chasing these celebrations across the state, noticing how each town adds its own character and local pride to the occasion…