Algonquin, Area St. Patrick’s Day Guide 2020: Parades, Events

ALGONQUIN, IL — St. Patrick’s Day is quickly approaching, and Algonquin and McHenry County have no shortage of events to celebrate the Irish holiday. This year, the holiday — celebrated every year on March 17 — falls on a Tuesday.

To commemorate the day, the month of March will be filled with several events across the area.

If you are looking to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, check out the list of upcoming events below.

If you know of a parade or event that’s not on the list, please feel free to tell us in the comment section below, or email rebecca.bream@patch.com.

Parades:

McHenry St. Patrick's Day Parade: 11 a.m. Saturday, March 14; sign up to be in the parade.

Events:

Huntley Goes Bald — A St. Baldrick's Day Event: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 14, inside at Pinecrest Golf Club, 11220 W. Algonquin Road in Huntley. This will be the sixth year of the event, and Huntley has helped raise over $340,000 for childhood cancer research over the last five years.The family-friendly, festive event raises funds for St. Baldrick’s, and includes head shaving, food, live music, kids activities, bagpipers at 5 p.m. and more. >> More information

Rebecca McCarthy's Irish Step Dancers: 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14 at Scorched Earth Brewing Co 203 Berg Street in Algonquin.

St. Patrick's Concert of Irish Music and Dance: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 12 at McHenry County College, Luecht Auditorium, 8900 US Highway 14 in Crystal Lake.

McHenry ShamRocks the Fox: Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15; March 14 lineup includes —

• 8 a.m.: McHenry Shamrock Shuffle - Sign up and join the annual 5k run or kid's 400 m dash.
• 9 a.m.: River Dyeing by Blarney Island
• 11 a.m.: St. Patrick's Day Parade (see above under 'Parades')
• 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.: Beer tent, children's activities, food trucks and live music at Miller Point

March 15 lineup includes —

• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Beer tent, children's activities, food trucks and live music at Miller Point
• 7 p.m.: Fireworks display on Miller Point, sponsored by Gary Lang Auto Group & Jett's Heating & Air

Barrington Celtic Fest: Friday to Tuesday, March 13 to 17 at McGonigal's Pub, 105 S. Cook Street in Barrington —

• Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
• Sunday: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
• Monday: Loft is closed to "rest up" for Tuesday; regular pub business hours
• Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
• Entertainment lineup and more information

The American celebration of St. Patrick’s Day started as a minor religious holiday in 1631, according to National Geographic. The church declared it a feast day, and over time the day became growingly associated with Irish-American tradition.

The annual holiday is celebrated on March 17 as it is the traditional death date of Saint Patrick.

The color green didn’t become connected with the day until the Irish Rebellion of 1798 — when Irish soldiers chose to wear green — since it was the color that most contrasted with the red British uniforms.

To read more about the history of the holiday and who St. Patrick was, visit National Geographic.