By Ben Cox
Photos/Special to The Source
Despite a chill in the air, the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day was alive and well in Jacksonville on Saturday, March 14, as residents lined the streets for a full day of festivities blending family-friendly fun with live entertainment and local flavor.
The annual parade, brought to the community by WJIL/WJVO, Guiness Draught, and Don’s Place. The Grand Marshall was Jerry McGinnis. The Parade kicked off at 11 a.m., with participants lining up along East State Street in front of Our Saviour Parish before stepping off and making their way around the downtown square.
While temperatures hovered in the mid- to upper 40s, a steady 17 mph wind out of the east-southeast made it feel colder. Even so, bright sunshine helped draw a strong crowd, with families and children filling the sidewalks—many eagerly scanning the pavement for tossed candy as floats and vehicles passed by.
Following the parade, attention shifted a few blocks away to the St. Patrick’s Day Touch-A-Truck event, held from noon to 2 p.m. next to the Jacksonville Municipal Building. The event gave children a chance to climb aboard and explore a wide range of vehicles, from tractors and dump trucks to racecars, fire engines and police cruisers. Admission was $5 for adults; children were admitted free.
The event also served a greater purpose, benefiting Crisis Center Foundation. Organized by Crisis Center Foundation Adult Prom Court member Tia Griffitts, the afternoon included barbecue offerings from prom court member Buddy Fore of My Buddy’s BBQ and a special appearance by Miss Southern Illinois’ Teen Lauryn Maher.
As the day progressed, festivities expanded across Jacksonville, offering something for nearly every age group at multiple locations. From bundled-up paradegoers downtown to families exploring heavy machinery and music fans filling local venues, Jacksonville’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration proved that even brisk temperatures could not dampen the city’s deep Irish roots.
