Almost nine months ago to the day, neighbors – and the city as a whole – seemingly let out a collective gasp when the South Side Irish Parade Committee announced that the annual Irish Parade had been canceled, ending a 30-year-old family tradition that had grown beyond its means. Now, just days before extended families return home to Mount Greenwood, Beverly and Morgan Park for Christmas, they’ll have a little good news to talk about.

On March 5 the Beverly Arts Center’s 11th annual Chicago Irish Film Festival will kick off a 10-day celebration of Irish culture and neighborhood identity, appropriately titled the South Side Irish Parade Family Fest.

The marquis event will be held March 13 at the Beverly Arts Center and will feature activities such as an Irish soda bread contest, a best-dressed “Irish” dog contest, and a children’s parade around the art center’s grounds – reminiscent of the original parade way back in 1979, when the “Wee Folks of Washtenaw and Talman” marched around the block.

The event will also offer family-friendly activities such as Irish-themed arts and crafts for kids, children’s films, and a live production by the Beverly Arts Centers’ own Children’s Theater Group. “The Beverly Arts Center has been doing the Family Fest for five years now, so this will just be a bigger fest, but still focused on the kids,” parade committee spokeswoman Mary Beth Sheehan told me.

In addition, this event will feature food, drink, numerous Irish vendors, and live entertainment from bagpipers, Irish dancers, and a host of Irish musicians. The evening will culminate with a performance by Hothouse Flowers, a world-renowned band hailing from Ireland that combines traditional Irish music with influences from soul, gospel and rock.

“It’s important to us that people continue with their traditions,” Sheehan said. “We want that day to be about the traditions that people have had for years. We encourage neighbors to go to a friend’s house or a neighbor’s house and continue what they’ve done all these years.”

Now in its eleventh year, of the Chicago Irish Film Festival is one of only a few such Irish film festivals in the United States. It will be held at the BAC from March 5-10. Visit www.chicagofilmfestival.com for complete details.

Also being held at the BAC is the Chicago Rose of Tralee contest: a competition in which women ages 17-27 exhibit their knowledge of and dedication to their Irish heritage. The winner will be crowned the Chicago Rose on the evening of March 12 and will go on to represent Chicago in the international competition in Tralee, Ireland.

Neighborhood St. Patrick’s Day festivities will peak the following day with the South Side Irish Parade Family Fest, an event which will feature a grand raffle – a major source of funding for the fest. Tickets are $50 a piece and prizes range from $250 to $10,000. Raffle tickets will go on sale Dec. 23 at the BAC. For more information, visit www.beverlyartscenter.org, call (773) 445-3838 or contact the parade committee at (773) 393-8687 or at southsideirishparade@ yahoo.com.

Before 4 p.m., admission to the festival will be $10 for adults and $7 for seniors 60 years of age and older. Children 12 and under will be admitted free of charge. After 4 p.m., admission will be $25.00 per person. The admission fee will grant patrons access to
the day’s entertainment as well as all children’s/family activities.

Food, drink and merchandise can all be purchased separately. To purchase admission tickets in advance, call the Beverly Arts Center at (773) 445-3838.

On Sunday, March 14, the traditional day of the South Side Irish Parade, St. Cajetan Catholic Church will hold its annual Irish Mass at 9 a.m. The parade committee anticipates that other local parishes will maintain their worship traditions as well. Following Mass, neighbors will be invited to gather at the Beverly Arts Center once again for a blessing and reception. The parade committee then encourages locals to continue to celebrate in their homes that afternoon with family and friends, just as in years past.

Parade committee member Jim Davoren and Bill Letz will serve as co-coordinators of the event. Davoren, has been on the committee since 1980 – the parade’s second year.