BEVERLY — Organizers of the South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade will again host a pre-parade fundraiser from 6-11 p.m. Saturday at 115 Bourbon Street.
Tickets cost $30 for the event at 3359 W. 115th St. in suburban Merrionette Park. Proceeds from the party help to offset the cost of the parade, which includes paying for added security officers, portable toilets and more.
"Since the parade is produced by a nonprofit organization consisting of many volunteers, we depend on donations to keep the parade operating in a safe, family friendly manner,” said Tom McGourty, co-chair of the South Side Irish Parade Committee.
The fundraiser will include raffles and silent auctions as well as the selection of the South Side Irish Parade Queen. The neighborhood queen will be featured prominently March 13 as the South Side Parade marches along Western Avenue from 103rd to 115th streets.
The South Side Parade queen will also appear downtown March 12 as part of the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade 2016. Women between the ages of 18-27 of Irish descent are encouraged to apply online to participate in the competition.
Entertainment for the preparty will include musical performances by the Larkin & Moran Brothers and Sean & Charlie in the performance hall at 115 Bourbon Street. New this year, the fundraiser will also feature traditional Irish session music in a separate area known as "The Saloon."
The South Side Irish Parade is the largest neighborhood-based St. Patrick’s Day Parade outside of Ireland, according to organizers, which include some 60 volunteers who work throughout the year on the event.
Last year, the parade boasted more than 100 entries and attracted some 200,000 spectators to the neighborhoods of Beverly and Morgan Park, organizers said.
Tickets to the preparty also include draft beer and a dinner buffet. For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit the South Side parade's website or call 773-916-7747.
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