By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — St. Patrick’s Day is a little more than a week away and the Irish Marching Society is once again bringing the festivities to town.

This year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade will step off at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 16 from Fifth and Seventh Streets. It then runs up Seventh to Charles Street, heads west on State Street over the Rock River and then south on Main Street before disbanding near the Rockford Park District administration building.

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Operation Emerald Water, the name given to turning the Rock River a shade of bright green, will happen again this year in conjunction with the parade.

The Irish Marching Society will also host PaddyFest again this year. The celebration of Irish music and food will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 16 at Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront Hotel, 416 S. Main St.

There will be music from The Tooles, Rockford Pipe Band and Emerald Wind. There is also a traditional Irish buffet served with corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, steamed carrots, a roll and cookie. It costs $10 to enter PaddyFest and $22 for the buffet. There is also a kids meal for $16.

To learn more about the parade and PaddyFest, or to purchase your tickets, go HERE.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas