Plenty of civic groups and several political candidates turned out.
If you have any pics from the fourth pass them on to EJ. The trusty cell phone camera is getting wobbly. I’m positive the icy cold beers had nothing to do with it. Click on any image for a larger version.
North and South bands combined and wore green.
Village council.
According to one parade attendee, Proviso East marching band has been in our parade for over 35 years without fail.
A somber note that drew respectful applause.
A highlight for me was the red 2002 Ford Durango with minor front end damage with the driver hurling tootsie rolls hard enough to cause blunt force trauma.
I kept waiting for the King’s Health Spa float but it never came through. Damn.
I have been going to the 4th of July parade in Downers Grove for over 50 years and I have to say…. every year it gets worse and worse! Too many politicians, not enough floats or bands… I’m not sure why this is, but it’s very disappointing. Every year it seems more “staples” of the parade are missing.. this year, no Shriners with their little carts. Very disappointing…
I saw the King’s Float, it was at the end of the parade and everyone on it looked very happy.
I have spoken to a few friends and attendee’s that said the same thing about the parade this year. Where were all the floats, bands, etc? How can we as a community make it a better parade next year? Are there any guidlines that each entry must follow to march in the parade? Why was there no review stand announcing each entry as it passed buy? Darien parade had two of those.
The Village cut the parades budget. All the missing entries got paid to show up last year. This year there was no funds so they did not show up.
WOW! I don’t understand why someone, a business or a group would need or want to get paid to march in a 4th of July parade. That is sad. Seems so un-american.
We were late, but only saw one band, plus the bagpipers in the last 45 minutes of the parade. I’m assuming both North and South bands performed in the first 15 minutes?
I think it was a N/S combo ensemble. They were in the 1st third of the parade. It seemd many of the marchers were oddly placed in positions. Example of the DGSRC then one car or a small group, then almost right behind was maple hill pool. Didn’t seem too much thought into the order and placement of each participating group based on that example. I hope they rethink it for next year.
North and South bands combined and they were early on in the parade.
Darien may have had two reviewing stands announcing the parade entrants, but (since I was literally sitting right in front of one of them) I would say about 90% of Darien’s parade was businesses and the announcing was just commercials for each business. It was really sad.
Downers was bad, but not nearly as bad as Darien. Both towns need to eliminate the businesses/commercials, even if it means a shorter parade.
The North and South marching band performs as one in parades. The District 99 band.
For most outside groups it amounts to gas money to get here and back.
From Tuesday nights council meeting, the feedback commissioners and the mayor said they got was that the parade was better than ever by focusing on local groups. More of a home town feel to it.
Maybe a local flavor but the quality of the entries was really bad. They should institute that certain groups, clubs, organizations be required to have some sort of float, or decorated car. The placement of entries needs to checked and rechecked. The pace of the poarade needs to be tightend so that there are fewer or shjorted gaps. Thje group I marched with at one point was divided by at least 2 blocks. from Franklin to North High School.
Hey From the heart, you should volunteer to organize the parade!
Sure Trish, I’m in. What about you? Do you want to help? I’d be happy to lend my expertise. Where do we both sign up? C’mon Trish!
Local parades are what you make of them. It was nice to see many youth groups. Next year maybe more will participate. For all those kids, being in that parade was a much larger event than what we saw.
I don’t have any complaints about the parade, From the Heart. We enjoy it every year, regardless of groups walking or riding on floats!
We always enjoy the high school bands and seeing our kids, friends kids, and adults we know marching in the parade. It’s is just good old fashion fun!
10-4 Trish. It is and always is fun but it could be a lot better. I had overheard a handful of residents at 2 seperate parties after the parade complain that it was the worst they had seen in many years. I don’t know about that but I know from my viewing, It could of been better as far as quality of the floats or non-floats, lack of bands, (Mark Clarified that with the $$$ cutbacks this year)and overall presentation of the participants marching. I would gladly volunteer to serve on a committee for next year ‘s parade if there is such a committee.