One of the key objectives of my private study tour of Chicago was to experience her world famous St Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade. They say it is even more Irish than Ireland!

On Saturday morning, 14 March 2009, to say it was a thrill to be on the banks of Chicago River among tens of thousands of people watching the river turn emerald green is just an understatement!

The sky was blue, the sun was bright, the weather was even uncharacteristically warm (according to Chicago’s citizens).

Even though a little late, the boat finally powered through the river with men in white protective overalls dispersed cups of orange powder into the river.

Just like magic, the Chicago River transformed from a brownish green colour to a bright emerald green! Cheers and applause erupted across both sides of the river, with smiles beaming from citizens and visitors alike.

Walking to Columbus Drive where the parade is staged between Millennium Park and Grant Park, well over 250 floats entertained over 150,000 people for about 3 hours. Mainly green, colourful and cheeky floats engaged with the throngs of people. From original Irish settler families, elected and aspirant politicians, scouts and girl guides, advertisement blazoned trucks, schools and marching bands, military representations from serving soldiers, veterans and West Point cadets, even spectacular aerobatic acts made the 3 hours whiz by. And as each float passed, their volunteers distributed and threw emerald green necklaces, trinkets, confectionary, even sample products and advertisement flyers.

It is worth pointing out that Chicago’s St Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade is often described as the annual “get drunk” day. Yet I have to say that I didn’t see much of that and overwhelmingly it was an extremely enjoyable public event.

Having met with the City Council’s Deputy Director Tim Thomas and also the parade organiser’s Plumbers Union Local 130, my interest to replicate this magnificent event was presented and assistance where possible was offered. However, the vital ingredient, that orange powder, was still under the Plumbers Union’s protective control, at least for now. Opportunity for further negotiation remained open.

Just imagine, our Parramatta River being only the other place in the world celebrating and attracting those Irish and Irish at heart for the annual St Patrick’s Day. I will still pursue this aspiration. Wish some pot-of-gold kind of luck, Parramatta could very well share the world stage with Chicago and Dublin as one of the global places of Irish history and celebration.

Click here for selected photos on this website.

Click here for the complete photos via Facebook.