'Shamrock Our Blocks' Home Decorating Contest Extended To March 9

CHICAGO — The deadline for submitting photos of your house decked out for St. Patrick’s Day has been extended to March 9 to give residents some more time to decorate after the spate of bad weather. While the pandemic has wiped out the South Side Irish Parade for a second year, it hasn’t stopped the South Side Irish from celebrating the driving of the snakes out of Ireland.

Residents are encouraged to creatively decorate the outside of their homes with a St. Patrick's Day theme. Shamrock Our include a grand prize of $1,000 in cash and $1,000 in local business gift cards; second prize is $1,000 in local business cards; and third to fifth prizes with prizes $500 dollars in local business gift cards.

All are welcome to enter the exterior house decorating contest, no matter where you live. To enter, simply decorate the exterior of your home, register at www.southsideirishparade.org, snap a photo. Entrants are asked to send a photo of their decorated homes by midnight March 4 to ssiphomedecorcontest@gmail.com. Entries must be registered and uploaded to be considered in the contest. The registration fee is $20 and includes a yard sign.

For those wishing to show local businesses support without entering the house decorating contest, Shamrock Our Blocks yard signs are available for purchase for $20. Proceeds from the contest and yard signs will support local businesses.