Irish Hooley planned

Lori Hammelman
Posted 3/4/19

Everyone is Irish when it comes to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

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Irish Hooley planned

Posted

ROCHELLE — Everyone is Irish when it comes to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

Join in the fun on Saturday, March 9 for the Lucky’s St. Paddy’s Day Parade and Irish Hooley from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in downtown Rochelle.

Nancy Bingham, Parade and Hooley organizer, said this year there will be a heated tent for many of the activities, several returning from previous Hooleys. Member of the James Hart family will head the parade this year as Grand Marshals.

“We encourage families to participate in the parade, even if they are not Irish everyone can be Irish for the day … O’ or Mc with their last names … wear green or green and orange, kids can decorate their bikes,” Bingham said. “Join the fun filled event for kids and adults alike.”

There will be family-friendly Irish Hooley entertainment held inside the heated tent from noon to 3:30 p.m. as well as vendors and crafters inside the Living Waters Church.

Music by the Templetons begins at 12 p.m.; Irish Dancers begin at 2:30 followed with the Rochelle Performing Arts Academy and Irish music by the Irish Bag Piper. Terry Dickow will be the event emcee.

Activities include crafts, Leprechaun Land, face painting, caricature drawings, “Be a Leprechaun” photo op, the Rochelle Fire Department’s Wee Firehouse and spud derby races.

Bingham noted several local businesses will be in on the event at their locations, including a make and take at Artist’s Garden and specials at the Rack Bar and Grill. Vendors at the event include Kitchen Table’s Corned Beef and Hash, Hicks BBQ’s pastrami, Tacos al Pastor and Ralfie’s BBQ. A local Girl Scout troop will be selling cookies.

“We will have many food vendors and we will have Irish pickles. If you haven’t tried them, you have to try, they are different,” she added.