The Irish Marching Society (IMS) was founded in 1979 by a group of individuals who wanted to come together to celebrate the Irish Heritage in the city of Rockford, Illinois. This organization plan and stage, with the help and support of the city of Rockford, the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. They also hold an annual St. Patrick's Day Party. The group, known as IMS Unit 1, is located in that city.
Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the second-largest island of the British Isles, the third-largest in Europe, and the twentieth-largest on Earth.
Rockford is a city in Winnebago County in the U.S. state of Illinois, in far northern Illinois. Located on the banks of the Rock River, Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County. The largest city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area, Rockford is the third-largest city in the state and the 171st most populous in the United States According to 2010 U.S. Census Data, the City of Rockford had a population of 152,871, with an outlying metropolitan area population of 348,360. The City of Rockford's population is 147,051 as of 2017, down 4.1% since 2010.
The first party was originally planned for a small Rockford Faust Hotel meeting room, but as word spread of the celebration, the party was moved to the Grand Ballroom. By 1984, the party had outgrown the Faust Hotel, and it was held in the Forest Hills Lodge. The party then moved to the Armory on North Main Street where it continued to grow in popularity. The largest estimated attendance was in 1991 when over 7,500 members, both IMS members as well as some non-members and their children. With the closing of the Armory, the party was moved around the downtown area - the Ing Skating Palace in 2002 and the Lyran Singing Society in 2003. In 2009 the party was held at the Cliffbreakers Restaurant in North Rockford.
The first parade was held in 1980 in downtown Rockford and the tradition has continued along various routes over the years. The parade includes not only members and their families, but also bag pipe bands, high school bands, floats, various government officials, including in one year a U.S. Vice President, various animals including an elephant & birds of prey, color guards, various beauty pageant winners and participants and, of course, clowns.
The IMS was founded to help preserve and celebrate the Irish heritage however membership is opened to person of all ethnic heritages. All event proceeds are contributed back to the community to various charities, with a total over $40,000 as of 2005.
All the parade and party organizing, as well as planning and executing is performed entirely by volunteers.
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