The South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade will hold its Pre-Parade Fundraising Party on Saturday, February 21, at Bourbon Street, 3359 W 115th Street in Marionette Park from 3 to 8 p.m.
Admission which is $50 includes a dinner buffet, draft beer and wine. The event will feature raffle prizes, great music and the announcement of this year’s South Side Irish Parade Queen. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit the parade’s website: https://southsideirishparade.org/]
The South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has also revealed its design for the 2026 T-shirts that serve as a fundraiser for the annual parade. This year, the T-shirts feature the artwork of Chicago firefighter Tim McCarthy and recognizes the 2026 South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and its Parade Honoree, St. Christina’s parish of Mount Greenwood, which is marking its 100th anniversary this year.
Tunnel to Towers is a national non-profit that helps America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. It was created to honor the life and legacy of Fire Department of New York firefighter Stephen Siller, who laid down his life to save others on September 11, 2001.
St. Christina Parish is also closely aligned with the Grand Marshal’s mission. Its own pastor, Father Ryan Brady also serves as chaplain of the Chicago Fire Department. An interesting part of St. Christina’s heritage is that 80 percent of the parish school children are sons and daughters of Chicago police and fire department personnel.
The specially designed poster/frameable picture and t-shirt honors both the Grand Marshal, Tunnel to Towers, our Parade Honoree, St. Christina Parish and the firefighters and first responders and Chicago’s unique King-Lockhardt Memorial Park known for honoring fallen Chicago firefighters Patrick King and Anthony Lockhardt as well the 9/11 First Responders Memorial Monument.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Tunnel to Towers Foundation. https://2026southsideirishparadetshirt.itemorder.com/shop/home/
About the South Side Irish Parade
The parade is operated by the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Heritage Foundation, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, where more than 100 volunteers work year-round to ensure this family-friendly celebration continues for future generations.
