ABC7 celebrates St. Patrick's Day with hour-long parade broadcast

March 5, 2010 (CHICAGO) The Grand Marshal for this year was Bob Ryan, "the Voice" of the St. Patrick's Day Parade who has been announcing the parade units as they approach the reviewing stand for more than three decades. The official parade guest of honor was Pat Fitzgerald, head coach of the Northwestern Wildcats football team.

Twenty-seven bands, 70 floats, thousands of marchers and a few leprechauns were featured as the parade proceeded from Balbo Drive, north on Columbus Drive to Monroe Street. The ABC7 Chicago float was also part of the festivities featuring ABC7's Mark Giangreco, Tracy Butler, Ravi Baichwal, Stacey Baca, Mike Caplan and "Mr. Food."

The St. Patrick's Day Parade was broadcast in high definition and is available on demand at abc7chicago.com.

Christopher Bowen was the executive producer of the parade.