Bill Letz, chair of the 2026 South Side Irish Parade, said on Mar. 10 that he is preparing to oversee the event for the third time as it returns to Western Avenue in Morgan Park for its 48th year. Letz and his wife moved to the neighborhood in December 1982 and quickly became involved with the parade committee after meeting founders George Hendry and Pat Coakley.
The South Side Irish Parade has become a significant tradition for the local community since its founding in 1979 by Hendry and Coakley, who first organized a group of children known as the “Wee folks of Washtenaw and Talman” to march around their block. The parade grew rapidly, moving from Kennedy Park to Western Avenue by 1981 due to increasing participation.
Letz recalled attending his first parade down Western Avenue: “We were sitting there watching this, seeing neighborhood kids, Boy and Girl Scouts, baby buggies,” Letz said. “We saw people marching and waving flags. I just looked at [Mary Beth] and said, ‘This is great. What a great thing this neighborhood does.’”
Since joining the committee in the mid-1980s, Letz has been responsible for organizing participants at the start of the parade route each year. “I am like a traffic cop on 103rd. You don’t want to sit there and have them lag behind,” he said. “You start them out fast because eventually, down the road, they will start to spread out… So you want to keep them as close together as possible.”
Letz also reflected on his long tenure with fellow volunteers: “I get a little emotional sometimes because most of the people that I started with… are no longer with us,” he said. “Especially this time of year… I’m like a representative of them.”
Each year, organizers select a grand marshal and honoree; this year’s choices are Tunnel to Towers Foundation—honoring fallen first responders—and St. Christina Parish in Mount Greenwood as it celebrates its centennial.
“Tunnel to Towers is an unbelievable organization. I was so impressed with the things that they do,” Letz said.
The parade has faced challenges over its history—including cancellations during the COVID-19 pandemic and earlier hiatuses due to unruly behavior—but returned with renewed focus on being family-friendly. Kevin Coakley, son of founder Pat Coakley and one of the original “wee folks,” joined efforts to revive it: “I wanted to get involved to help figure out how we were going to bring it back,” he said.
Coakley emphasized maintaining order: “During our meeting with police this year, they said a lot of other parades have had a big uptick in underage drinking… They are going to be looking to hand out tickets if that is the case.” He added: “We want everyone to have a good time… Come to the neighborhood, enjoy it… obviously in a respectful manner.”
The South Side Irish Parade will step off at noon Sunday from 103rd Street and Western Avenue.
