As sporadic storm cells wreaked havoc with many Last Fling activities over the holiday weekend, the Jaycees Labor Day Parade proceeded as planned through downtown Naperville. This year’s parade theme was a “100 Years of Commerce.”
The parade started at 10AM after veterans presented the Colors at the corner of Mill Street and 5th Avenue. And, the only ironic hiccup was the recently restored vintage 1924 Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine was overheating. The newly commissioned Joe Naper Statue saw his first parade, too.
Marchers of all ages spread community spirit and good cheer to enthusiastic revelers that line both sides of the Parade route. The Parade is a showcase of all things Naperville with entries from gymnastics clubs, boosters clubs, businesses, color guards, bands and politicians. And, many kids pocketed candy from Parade marchers.
The Naperville Municipal Band followed by area high school marching bands – including Naperville North, Naperville Central, Neuqua, Metea, Waubonsie and Benet – livened up the surroundings with patriotic tunes and popular music. Also, the Pete Ellman Big Band jazzed up the route with big sounds and timely classics.
Marchers followed the route from Naperville North High School and headed south on Mill Street to Jefferson, east to Main, south to Porter and finally west along Porter, ending near the parking lot behind Naper Settlement and Naperville Central High School.
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Thanks to the Naperville Jaycees and all the volunteers for making Last Fling and the Labor Day Parade a huge success.
