The 2011 City of Elgin Fourth of July Parade – Presented by Sherman Health steps off Monday, July 4 at 9AM.
Over 15,000 spectators annually converge upon downtown Elgin to witness this summertime tradition. This year's parade features over 80 parade units, 20 floats and nearly 150 different vehicles.
PARADE THEME & JUDGING
The theme of this year's Fourth of July Parade is "Toys on Parade". Groups, organizations and businesses are encouraged to participate by decorating floats or parade vehicles in the finest toy-themed regalia or dressing up in toy-inspired costumes.
In addition to the regular parade float judging, which includes a first, second and third place prize in the Open, Business and Children’s categories, a special "Eco-Elgin Award" will be given to the float that best tells the story of a "Green" Elgin - utilizing eco-friendly materials and processes for their parade entry.
This year's parade float decorating contest judging panel consists of Bob Malm, Ricardo Mancha, Krisilee Murphy, Velma Sept and Rich Wagner.
NEW! PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
This year's Fourth of July Parade will also include a People's Choice Award, voted on by the general public for the entire week following the parade, for the parade unit that best exemplifies the "Toys on Parade" theme. Photos of every parade unit, courtesy of our official Parade Photographer, David Ham of Ham Sandwich Imagery, and the online voting form will be available on the DNA's website at DowntownElgin.com beginning Wednesday, July 6 and "People's Choice" award voting concludes Tuesday, July 12 at Noon.
NEW! GRAND TEACHERS/GRAND MARSHALS
This past spring, the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin encouraged area students, parents, teachers and school administrators to nominate outstanding Elgin area teachers to serve as a Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal. After receiving dozens of nominations, the Fourth of July Parade committee selected three deserving candidates who will ride at the front of the parade in a beautiful powder blue Grand Marshal ’57 Cadillac convertible, provided by Richard Bennett:
Amy Baldini
5th-8th Grade Teacher
The Einstein Academy
Gloria Helin
1st Grade Teacher
Channing Memorial Elementary School
Dee Burns Maroney
4th Grade Teacher
Lords Park Elementary School
As an added thank you to the many deserving nominees, the Fourth of July Parade Committee has invited all of the "grand" teacher nominees and their nominators to march in the parade alongside the Grand Marshal car.
NEW! KOUNTRY PET RESORT POOCH PARADE
Another new addition to this year’s Fourth of July Parade is the Kountry Pet Resort Pooch Parade. Beginning at Ann Street and Douglas Avenue just before 9AM, members, staff and residents of Kountry Pet Resort in Elgin will parade their puppies and pooches - many dressed in their finest patriotic attire – to warm up the crowd along the south end of the parade route. There will be a costume contest, dog trick demonstrations and free dog treats and toys will be handed out by Kountry Pet Resort staff. Pet waste clean-up will be provided by Ron John Poo-B-Gone of Bartlett.
NEW! COMMUNITY CRISIS CENTER TOY DRIVE
In keeping with the parade theme of Toys on Parade, parade-goers are encouraged to donate a new toy at Community Crisis Center's Toy Drive, which takes place after the parade in front of City Hall, 150 Dexter Court. Every family that donates a toy receives one free child's admission (with the purchase of an adult ticket) to LEGOLand located in the Streets of Woodfield in Schaumburg.
Characters from the movie Toy Story will also be on-hand at the Toy Drive taking photos with the kids. A small financial donation to the Community Crisis Center is required and parents must take their own photos.
PARADE ENTERTAINMENT
The City of Elgin’s Fourth of July Parade also boasts an assemblage of some of the area's finest parade entertainment sure to thrill parade-goers both young and young at heart, including:
South Shore Drill Team
The Jesse White Tumblers
Crystal Lake Strikers
Big Shoulders Brass Band
Medinah Motor Corps
Dundee Scottish Pipe Band
Kane County Mounted Rangers
Matt Wilhelm and Next Level BMX Team
Those Funny Little People
U-46 Bands from Streamwood High School, South Elgin High School, Larkin High School and Elgin High School
Tebala Shriners Blue Haze Mini Choppers, Mini Bikes and Big Wheels
STREET CLOSURES
Please be advised that Kimball Street will be shut down from Brook to Center streets from 8:45AM until the parade completely disbands around 11:30AM. Parking is available at the south end of the parade route in the free downtown parking lots and garages and at the north end in the Sherman Health Immediate Care surface lot and along neighboring streets.
VOLUNTEERS
The parade would not be possible without the efforts of dozens of community volunteers. The Fourth of July Parade Committee is still seeking additional volunteers for the day of the parade. Available positions include Block Captains, Gate Keepers, Parade Route Ambassadors and Set-Up/Tear-Down Crew. The approximate time commitment would be 7AM-11AM. All volunteers enjoy a Volunteer Breakfast at the Elgin Police Department Community Room, 151 Douglas Avenue, beginning at 6:15AM and a free parade t-shirt. For more information about volunteering for the Fourth of July Parade, call (847) 488-1456 or e-mail downtownelgin@gmail.com
SPONSORS
The City of Elgin, the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin and the Fourth of July Parade Committee thanks all of the generous sponsors for their support of the parade.
Sherman Health – Presenting Sponsor
Provena St. Joseph Hospital – Red Level Sponsor
Woody Buick/GMC, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. and BocaJump – White Level Sponsors
Spring Hill Gymnastics, Insure One, Kountry Pet Resort, Kids First Pediatric Dentistry, Elgin Community College, Psychosis Haunted House, Kirkpatrick, Jones & Herzog Insurance and Redmon’s Towing – Blue Level Sponsors
Harris Bank, Danny’s Pizza, Lamp Incorporated, Elgin Public House, Elgin Junior Service Board and Richard Bennett – Community Sponsors
For more information about the 2011 City of Elgin Fourth of July Parade – Presented by Sherman Health, contact the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin at (847) 488-1456, e-mail downtownelgin@gmail.com or visit DowntownElgin.com.
Over 15,000 spectators annually converge upon downtown Elgin to witness this summertime tradition. This year's parade features over 80 parade units, 20 floats and nearly 150 different vehicles.
PARADE THEME & JUDGING
The theme of this year's Fourth of July Parade is "Toys on Parade". Groups, organizations and businesses are encouraged to participate by decorating floats or parade vehicles in the finest toy-themed regalia or dressing up in toy-inspired costumes.
In addition to the regular parade float judging, which includes a first, second and third place prize in the Open, Business and Children’s categories, a special "Eco-Elgin Award" will be given to the float that best tells the story of a "Green" Elgin - utilizing eco-friendly materials and processes for their parade entry.
This year's parade float decorating contest judging panel consists of Bob Malm, Ricardo Mancha, Krisilee Murphy, Velma Sept and Rich Wagner.
NEW! PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
This year's Fourth of July Parade will also include a People's Choice Award, voted on by the general public for the entire week following the parade, for the parade unit that best exemplifies the "Toys on Parade" theme. Photos of every parade unit, courtesy of our official Parade Photographer, David Ham of Ham Sandwich Imagery, and the online voting form will be available on the DNA's website at DowntownElgin.com beginning Wednesday, July 6 and "People's Choice" award voting concludes Tuesday, July 12 at Noon.
NEW! GRAND TEACHERS/GRAND MARSHALS
This past spring, the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin encouraged area students, parents, teachers and school administrators to nominate outstanding Elgin area teachers to serve as a Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal. After receiving dozens of nominations, the Fourth of July Parade committee selected three deserving candidates who will ride at the front of the parade in a beautiful powder blue Grand Marshal ’57 Cadillac convertible, provided by Richard Bennett:
Amy Baldini
5th-8th Grade Teacher
The Einstein Academy
Gloria Helin
1st Grade Teacher
Channing Memorial Elementary School
Dee Burns Maroney
4th Grade Teacher
Lords Park Elementary School
As an added thank you to the many deserving nominees, the Fourth of July Parade Committee has invited all of the "grand" teacher nominees and their nominators to march in the parade alongside the Grand Marshal car.
NEW! KOUNTRY PET RESORT POOCH PARADE
Another new addition to this year’s Fourth of July Parade is the Kountry Pet Resort Pooch Parade. Beginning at Ann Street and Douglas Avenue just before 9AM, members, staff and residents of Kountry Pet Resort in Elgin will parade their puppies and pooches - many dressed in their finest patriotic attire – to warm up the crowd along the south end of the parade route. There will be a costume contest, dog trick demonstrations and free dog treats and toys will be handed out by Kountry Pet Resort staff. Pet waste clean-up will be provided by Ron John Poo-B-Gone of Bartlett.
NEW! COMMUNITY CRISIS CENTER TOY DRIVE
In keeping with the parade theme of Toys on Parade, parade-goers are encouraged to donate a new toy at Community Crisis Center's Toy Drive, which takes place after the parade in front of City Hall, 150 Dexter Court. Every family that donates a toy receives one free child's admission (with the purchase of an adult ticket) to LEGOLand located in the Streets of Woodfield in Schaumburg.
Characters from the movie Toy Story will also be on-hand at the Toy Drive taking photos with the kids. A small financial donation to the Community Crisis Center is required and parents must take their own photos.
PARADE ENTERTAINMENT
The City of Elgin’s Fourth of July Parade also boasts an assemblage of some of the area's finest parade entertainment sure to thrill parade-goers both young and young at heart, including:
South Shore Drill Team
The Jesse White Tumblers
Crystal Lake Strikers
Big Shoulders Brass Band
Medinah Motor Corps
Dundee Scottish Pipe Band
Kane County Mounted Rangers
Matt Wilhelm and Next Level BMX Team
Those Funny Little People
U-46 Bands from Streamwood High School, South Elgin High School, Larkin High School and Elgin High School
Tebala Shriners Blue Haze Mini Choppers, Mini Bikes and Big Wheels
STREET CLOSURES
Please be advised that Kimball Street will be shut down from Brook to Center streets from 8:45AM until the parade completely disbands around 11:30AM. Parking is available at the south end of the parade route in the free downtown parking lots and garages and at the north end in the Sherman Health Immediate Care surface lot and along neighboring streets.
VOLUNTEERS
The parade would not be possible without the efforts of dozens of community volunteers. The Fourth of July Parade Committee is still seeking additional volunteers for the day of the parade. Available positions include Block Captains, Gate Keepers, Parade Route Ambassadors and Set-Up/Tear-Down Crew. The approximate time commitment would be 7AM-11AM. All volunteers enjoy a Volunteer Breakfast at the Elgin Police Department Community Room, 151 Douglas Avenue, beginning at 6:15AM and a free parade t-shirt. For more information about volunteering for the Fourth of July Parade, call (847) 488-1456 or e-mail downtownelgin@gmail.com
SPONSORS
The City of Elgin, the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin and the Fourth of July Parade Committee thanks all of the generous sponsors for their support of the parade.
Sherman Health – Presenting Sponsor
Provena St. Joseph Hospital – Red Level Sponsor
Woody Buick/GMC, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. and BocaJump – White Level Sponsors
Spring Hill Gymnastics, Insure One, Kountry Pet Resort, Kids First Pediatric Dentistry, Elgin Community College, Psychosis Haunted House, Kirkpatrick, Jones & Herzog Insurance and Redmon’s Towing – Blue Level Sponsors
Harris Bank, Danny’s Pizza, Lamp Incorporated, Elgin Public House, Elgin Junior Service Board and Richard Bennett – Community Sponsors
For more information about the 2011 City of Elgin Fourth of July Parade – Presented by Sherman Health, contact the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin at (847) 488-1456, e-mail downtownelgin@gmail.com or visit DowntownElgin.com.
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2 comments:
What is the complete parade route? Where is the best place to watch the parade?
I've seen the Crystal Lake Strikers in numerous parades in McHenry County as well as in the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade. They are VERY entertaining! Good to see them in Elgin this year!
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