Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day Festivities Right in Your Own Backyard
March is finally here and this means two things; spring is around the corner and it’s time to make your St. Patrick’s Day celebration plans. There are many activities planned around the city of Chicago, however you don’t need to fight the traffic and head downtown when there is plenty of festive and exciting activities planned right in your own backyard in McHenry.
McHenry has started their own St. Patrick’s Day traditions including dyeing our very own piece of the Fox River green! Here are some ideas to help you plan your weekend.
Local Celebrations
Local festivities are kicked off every year at the McHenry Shamrock Shuffle, a 5k at McHenry High School. This will be the 9th annual celebration of the Shamrock Shuffle and will be held Saturday morning, March 16th. The race and activities start at 8am so make sure to sign up! Following this event is the St Patrick’s Day parade, along with live music, family activities, and dyeing our piece of the Fox River green. These events are part of what makes up the two-day festival, ‘McHenry ShamRocks the Fox’. Shops and restaurants also hold special deals during this time so make sure you visit downtown McHenry and Miller Park areas. There are fireworks on Sunday night to end the weekend celebrations! For specifics on the schedule of events, click here.
The McHenry County College is hosting an Irish concert FREE and open to the public on March 14th at 7pm, two days before St Patrick’s Day. The concert features an Irish trio performing pub songs, Irish ballads, and dance tunes for everyone to enjoy. Additionally, the McNulty Irish Dancers will perform traditional Irish dances learned at one of the most active dance schools in the Midwest, the McNulty School of Irish Dance. This will be one of the first open concerts exclusively featuring Irish music and dance, so you won’t want to miss it!
SHAMROCKED StreetFest  will take place in Woodstock on March 16th, starting at noon and will run all the way until midnight! There will be a bags tournament, plenty of cold beer, and live music for everyone to enjoy! This year’s concert is featuring The Boy Band Night, Nashville Electric Company, Marc Esses & Danny Vintage, and GOOROOS so you better be ready to rock out.
If food is the way you like to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, than head up to Lake Geneva. Whether you live in one of the Gerstad Builders communities in McHenry, about a 30 minute drive, or in our Williams Bay community, which is a 10 minute drive, you won’t be disappointed.
There are two great options for a delicious meal.
- The Delevan Lion’s Club is having their 56th annual all you can eat St. Patrick’s Day dinner. Enjoy some authentic Irish food such as; baked chicken and corned beef and cabbage. Dinner is served from 11:30am to 7pm on March 17 at the Village Supper Club on beautiful Delavan Lake.
- If a party is more what you are looking for, enjoy some good corned beef and cabbage and snacks at Jamie & Shanna’s St. Patrick’s Day Social. This event will take place on Sunday, March 17 starting at 3pm at Hogs and Kisses.
If you are interested in learning more about Gerstad Builders’ many communities near these St. Patrick’s Day events, click here to contact us or call at (815) 385-4495.
