Consider that none of the youngsters who will enjoy the 2015 Jaycees Last Fling the most was born when the idea for the first family festival was conceived by Rick Motta back in 1966.
Then imagine the long list of to-dos that 2015 Co-Executive Directors Mark Moulsong and John Trojanowski and their executive committee must complete before they receive clearance from public safety officers that all systems are go at 6PM Fri., Sept. 4, to begin this year’s four-day Last Fling.
Above: “Logistics Pete” orchestrates the Last Fling Executive Committee, getting the square-scoop from Positively Naperville, at their final planning meeting before the 50th Last Fling. Pete is responsible for coordinating all Last Fling logistics from electrical cords, stages, tents, golf carts and porta potties.
And fast forward to Monday morning when hundreds, if not thousands, of parade revelers will line up to participate in the Labor Day Parade. Picture tens of thousands of spectators lining the parade route that begins at Mill Street near Naperville North High School before it meanders through downtown to end at Naperville Central High School.
To help the Naperville Jaycees celebrate the first 50 Last Flings, Rick Motta, Naperville resident and creator of the event, will serve as Grand Marshal of the parade when it steps off at 10AM on Mon., Sept. 7, 2015.
As the story goes, back in the 1960s, Motta was a member business of the Naperville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors on behalf of the Rick Motta Barber Shop. After he saw the popular movie Picnic, Motta suggested that a festival and parade be held on Labor Day. The Chamber board appointed him to develop the idea.
“So, in 1966, The Last Fling was born with the best parade ever and some festivities in the Centennial Beach parking area,” Motta said.
Motta’s passion and perseverance helped grow the event into a four-day festival, and he served as chairman for six years through 1972.
The Last Fling was entrusted to the Naperville Jaycees in 1981.
“We are so pleased that Rick will be joining us for the parade, and we enjoy hearing his stories of how the Last Fling began,” said Danielle Tufano, 2015 Last Fling public relations and marketing chairperson. “It’s amazing that for as large as this event has become, the goal is still the same: to provide a fun and family-friendly festival to celebrate the end of summer in Naperville.”
Above: Jaycees in 2001. Photo by Jo Lundeen.
CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF LAST FLING EVENTS
Last Flings Remembered
Memories of Last Fling have created lasting impressions for all ages dating back before the development of Naper Settlement, the Riverwalk, Rotary Hill and Moser Tower with the 72-bell carillon. Today those featured amenities help enhance the festival area along Jackson from Main Street to Aurora Avenue.
For longtime residents, former Jaycees, now Roosters, associated with many local businesses— Brien Nagle, Tom Miers, Ray Kinney, Al DeGeeter, Ed Channell, Brand Bobosky, Cliff Preston, Chuck Bueche, Chuck Corrigan and Kevin Gensler, to name a very, very few — come to mind.
Just how did this end-of-summer tradition happen to begin?
Back in 2002, two pages of minutes from the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce dated July 1965 were faxed to Positively Naperville. (When was the last time you received a fax?)
According to the minutes, Dick Wehrli, head of the Chamber’s community promotion committee at the time, advanced the idea of a Labor Day outing. “City officials have agreed that the use of the Centennial Park area could be worked out. A two or three day Labor Day Celebration is our hope—something that Naperville could be known for…”
The minutes reflect ideas for a weekend of picnics and outings, including a sports show and sports activities. The festivities would wind up with a parade, picnic, ball game, band concert, etc., on Labor Day.
Carl Nadelhoffer went on record to move the idea forward. The Chamber voted to support the gala Labor Day Weekend. Five hundred dollars was set aside for start-up funds. And the 50-year history began.
The following year, Motta outlined plans for the festival, “Labor Day Last Fling,” to be held in the Centennial Beach Parking Lot. The event would kick off with a parade, followed by games of skill, contests, swimming and concessions. According to the minutes, local leaders Bill Feldott and Ken Small motioned to approve all the ideas.
Last Fling Outgrew Centennial Beach
Ray Kinney remembers that after a decade the Fling moved to Knoch Park for a few years to keep up with its growth. Then in 1981, Last Fling organizers in the Chamber of Commerce turned the event over to the Jaycees, a local service club since 1955.
At first, the Jaycees Last Fling set up its midway rides and carnival booths in the parking lot behind Ted’s Montana Grill. (Back then, Oswald’s Pharmacy operated where Ted’s is now.) By the mid-1980s, the event spilled over onto Jefferson. And that’s when the Jaycees sold the prized “buckets of beer,” a fun idea that was nipped in the bud.
Kinney and other Jaycees still have commemorative beer buckets.
Jackson Avenue or Bust!
In 1985, the Last Fling moved to Jackson Avenue, a perfect stretch for the Midway Carnival. Over the years, the Riverwalk and its parking lots have provided growth areas with venues for entertainment stages, business expos and other activities for all ages. Main Stage concerts were set at Rotary Hill.
Back in 2001, when Positively Naperville was covering its first Last Fling, Lynette Klingbeil was executive director. At the time, she credited good weather as a major part in the success of the event. She also was quoted in a news story that the volunteer organization back then could not have been as successful without the help of Jaycees administrators, Roxanne Lang and Sue Gensler.
The Last Fling has taken quite a joyful ride, with ups and downs; yet, it’s always been focused on its goal to throw a fun party for the entire Naperville family.
In recent years, Naper Settlement has been home to the 3-day Family Fun Land.
CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF LAST FLING EVENTSOh! A Few in a Million Memories of Jaycees
“I remember when I kicked some butt at the big wheel race, either 1984 or 1985,” said Beth DeGeeter. “To this day, it was the biggest trophy I ever won. I beat all kids but this one boy and got to ride in the back of the pick-up truck in the parade while there was about 100 kids riding their big wheels behind it.”
“When it was on Jackson Street, they served buckets of beer,” said Al DeGeeter. “They poured beer so fast, they had competitions to see who could kill the keg the fastest.”
Jaycees Bill Eagan said, “My first fling will always be special for two reasons: First, helping Kevin Haga with his Eagle Scout project and signing people up for organ donation. And second, seeing the special needs families enjoy their time at the carnival.”
“Once the fest moved onto the hill, my family and family friends always set up our blankets and such right near the top of the hill,” wrote Karen Coleman, President of the Naperville Jaycees. “Our picnic baskets and chairs were always the first and last things off of the hill. We always stayed until we got kicked off- laughing and dancing and singing. Was such fun!
Coleman also recalled that when she was a teen, her Girl Scout troop and some other friends would sell the glow jewelry to the concert goers. “Saw a lot of memorable things that way!” she added.
“I lost a button on my favorite white shorts as a 6th grader on the Zipper,” Coleman continued. I screamed so loudly it popped right off my pants and clinked around the cage until it fell out.”
“My favorite memory happened during the 2009 Last Fling,” said Kevin Coyne. “My wife, Kim, went into labor the week of the event. We ended up getting to take our new born baby, Charlotte, to Rotary Hill to enjoy her first Last Fling. The Last Fling has been a big part of our lives for 15 years. It was fun to get Charlotte started early… she was pretty much born into it.”
Before the Exchange Club started Ribfest, the Jaycees had a rib cooking contest at the Last Fling that we called Ribfest,” said Chuck Corrigan. “The rib-cooking contest at the Last Fling continued on and is still part of the Last Fling, but the Jaycees graciously conceded the Ribfest name to the Exchange Club’s new event.”
Corrigan also remembers that the Jaycees always rally to get enough manpower to staff all of the positions at the Last Fling.
“Every year we have to keep recruiting until the last few days to cover everything,” Corrigan said. “In the old days, the officers and directors of the Jaycees would take our telephone lists of our members’ home phone numbers and head over to a local bank (MidAmerica) or Realtor’s office (John Greene) after hours, while enjoying pizza and a few beverages, and conduct phone-a-thons until all (or most) of the spots were filled.”
“Working at a radio station, I’ve been given the great opportunity to go up on the Main Stage and help introduce the bands over the last few years,” said Danielle Tufano, who is handing publicity for the 2015 Last Fling. “Seeing Rotary Hill packed with so many excited music lovers was so cool! One year, as I was getting ready to talk off stage, I had an idea to make this memory last a life time so I told everyone in the crowd to take out their cell phone and turn on their flashlight… the view was BREATHTAKING!”
And that photo is featured on the cover of the September 2015 issue of PN. Thanks, Jaycees!
CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF LAST FLING EVENTS
