Yes, it’s the Elmhurst Armpit Orchestra, led by Drum Major Scott LaMorte at the front with the plunger baton, and that can only mean one thing – the Elmhurst St. Patrick’s Day Parade is back on the schedule and ready to step off on Saturday, Mar. 5, following a two-year absence due to COVID-19. The EAO and its giant bass drum known as “Mary” will serve as Grand Marshal.
It seems like an eternity since March 7, 2020. Our country and our world were on the precipice of a worldwide pandemic. Our lives would change dramatically in a matter of days.
That day marked our last Elmhurst St. Patrick’s Day Parade, as the 2021 Parade would be cancelled. That 2020 parade would be the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the State that year. The parades scheduled in Chicago for the following week would be cancelled, as this nasty virus took hold on our lives.
Fast forward to 2022. We are hopeful COVID-19 has run out of Greek letters and won’t mutate into another variant, more resistant to vaccines and more contagious than previous variants. It’s time to get out in our neighborhoods and once again celebrate the end of winter with another St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Elmhurst. This year’s parade will step off at noon on Saturday, Mar. 5 on Spring Road at Wilson Street.
The 2022 St. Pat’s Parade might be even a bigger deal than the previous 24, according to long-time Parade Chair Jim O’Connor.
“I think we might see record crowds this year,” he said “People are tired of locking down during this pandemic and might look to Parade Day as a safe way to get outside and reconnect with friends and neighbors after a long ‘Chicago’ winter.”
Although the parade was cancelled last year, it didn’t stop outgoing Elmhurst Mayor Steve Morley from presenting O’Connor with a proclamation declaring March 13, 2021 as Jim O’Connor Day in the City of Elmhurst. The proclamation read, “…whereas, the City of Elmhurst looks forward to the 25th Annual Elmhurst St. Patrick’s Day Parade to be held in March, 2022, with Parade Chair O’Connor leading the Parade Committee; and whereas, Mr. O’Connor’s leadership, spirit and hard work have led to many years of elevated community spirit….”
And not to be outdone, at that same ceremony on “Jim O’Connor Day,” the Elmhurst Armpit Orchestra (EAO) presented Mayor Morley with its highest award, the Colleen Cecile Sutherland Distinguished Service Award.
“The award recognizes Steve’s nearly 15 years of service as a member of Elmhurst’s City Council, including two terms as Mayor. It also recognizes his participation as a member of the EAO’s prestigious marching band,” according to EAO co-founder Scott Sutherland and Colleen’s husband.
This year’s Parade will be filled with more of the same great entertainment featured at previous parades. An important part of any St. Patrick’s Day celebration, the Shannon Rovers and Medinah Highlanders will again bring their pipe bands and fun Irish music to the streets of Elmhurst. And the Medinah group will bring their other fun units, including flying carpets, clowns and motorcycles. And, of course, Elmhurst’s own York Community High School Marching Band will showcase the talents of our community’s up and coming musicians. The year 2022 marks the first Elmhurst St. Patrick’s Day Parade in which Mayor Scott Levin will lead the City Council down Spring Road.
EAO, ‘Mary’ the drum to serve as Grand Marshal
A regular St. Pat’s Parade favorite, the “World Famous Elmhurst Armpit Orchestra and ‘Mary’, the World’s Largest Drum” will be honored as this year’s Grand Marshal. Marching in its 13th Elmhurst St. Pat’s Parade, the mostly kazoo and bucket drum band is always a hit. The EAO has named a queen for each of the last nine parades, beginning with Queen Mary O’Connor in 2012. The Queen is normally announced on parade day and is a complete surprise to the “winner.” This year’s Queen will lead the EAO with its former queens in tow.
For more information about the Parade, Parade sponsorship or to apply for your group to march in the Parade, visit www.elmhurststpatsparade.com or call the Parade office at 630-834-0300.
