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‘Mini Naperville Parade’ and Block Party showcase Naperville spirit for WGN-TV

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UPDATE, July 16, 2019 / WGN-TV Supervising Producer Lauren Miholic sent the following message with gratitude to all participants in last Friday’s fun parade…

“I just wanted to send out a quick note and say thank you so much for helping us put on a great parade on Friday. We loved having everyone out there. Thanks for going with the flow and being awesome! Have a wonderful rest of the summer,” Lauren Miholic, WGN-TV (PN Photo)

UPDATE, July 12, 2019 / The party’s over! Thanks, WGN9 Morning News, for the chance to showcase a sampling of Naperville’s community spirit. Folks here are accustomed to getting up early to make things happen!  Cheers to the entire production crew and on-air talent at WGN as well as to Mother Nature for the glorious sunshine.

Now enjoy Sidewalk Days in downtown Naperville today and tomorrow— and note upcoming events that welcome participation. A few of the future fundraisers featured in today’s WGN9 Morning News Parade along Jackson Avenue are pictured below…

Rotary Ride begins and ends at Commissioners Park on Sun., Aug. 11. INFO: www.napervillerotaryride.com.
Naperville Riverwalk Duck Race is 10AM Wed., Aug. 14. INFO: www.riverwalkduckrace.com.
Loaves & Fishes Night to End Hunger is Fri., Sept. 6, at Elements on Water Street. INFO: www.loaves-fishes.org.

PN’S PHOTO GALLERY INCLUDES THE THREE PHOTOS ABOVE… CLICK HERE FOR MORE…


UPDATE, July 11, 2019 / Look for lights, cameras, action and more as WGN9 sets up for its Block Party & Parade slated 6AM to 10AM on Fri., July 12, along the first phases of the Naperville Riverwalk in downtown Naperville.  Note road closure today along Jackson Ave. from Eagle to Webster. 

During the broadcast, Rick Hitchcock will share design tales of the 38-year-old Riverwalk in the first hour… Pam Bartlett will be painting Riverwalk scenes for Pinot’s Palette in the second hour… And there’s plenty more planned. 

On Friday, Jackson Ave. will be closed from Eagle to Main streets. Webster Street will be closed from Jefferson Ave. to Jackson Ave. To accommodate the event, Nichols Library Parking Lot will be closed for parade logistics. Nichols Library will open at 1PM, Fri., July 12.

UPDATE, July 9, 2019 / The WGN-TV Block Party and Parade will take place live from 6AM to 10AM Fri., July 12, along the Riverwalk in the big block from the Dandelion Fountain at Webster Street to Main Street along Jackson Avenue.

Robin Baumgarten, Larry Potash, Paul Konrad, Pat Tomasulo and the WGN morning crew will take their show on the road to broadcast live from the Dandelion Fountain, one of the most popular gathering places on the Riverwalk.

Monday 40 parade participants, including service clubs and nonprofit organizations, were contacted to provide instructions to folks marching in the parade. The showcase of community spirit is expected to step off about 9AM with the Naperville American Legion Post 43 / Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 Color Guard leading the way.

Chris Krapek from the Naperville Public Library notified local media that “due to the WGN Morning News Summer Block Party happening in Downtown Naperville, Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave, will open at 1PM on Friday, July 12.”

And folks looking ahead at the weather forecast were encouraged that all systems seem to say “sunny.”

Tuesday morning WGN Morning Show Block Party and Parade organizers noted participation for the event is closed with a record 42 entrants in the parade.

“We are full!” emailed WGN-TV Supervising Producer Lauren Miholic. “We have the most participants for any parade that we’ve done for our Morning Show Block Party.” 

Sooooo… Get up and go to the Riverwalk between Webster and Jackson early Friday for plenty of live entertainment. In addition to the parade, enjoy live music from the Strumbellas and LovelytheBand.  Plus, kid-friendly bounce houses, a rock wall, Touch a Truck, Blackhawks inflatables and more will be stationed at the block party to entertain youngsters. 

WGN Morning News is broadcast on “Chicago’s Very Own WGN 9.” Different cable providers feature the program on different channels. WGN Morning News is also broadcast on the independent station’s live stream schedule.

Note also that downtown Naperville merchants will be in the middle of three days of deals on display inside and outside during the DNA’s annual Summer Sidewalk Sales, running from Thurs., July 11 through Sat., July 13.


Original Post, June 30, 2019 / Back in late May, WGN-TV Supervising Producer Lauren Miholic sent a request to Downtown Naperville Alliance Executive Director Katie Wood for help coordinating an upcoming event for “the #1 rated WGN Morning News show.”

WGN Morning News is bringing its 4th Annual Block Party and Parade to Naperville, and the entire morning crew will broadcast live from 6-10AM Fri., July 12, along the Riverwalk near Main Street.

In addition to a big parade stepping off from Nichols Library at Webster to head along Jackson Avenue toward Main Street, live music will be performed by LovelytheBand and The Strumbellas at the block party.

As parade coordinator, Miholic said, “We’re looking for groups, teams and organizations to join our parade—groups, teams, etc., showing off their Naperville pride!”

With that, Wood went to work to connect Miholic with community groups.

Miholic said she hoped to find 25-plus organizations to walk in the parade and a few groups to perform at the block party. In the past, dancers, choirs, karate demos and cheerleaders, small floats and cars had been featured in the parade.

“We’d love for your group to join us!” wrote Miholic in emails to service clubs and local businesses.

“We’re thrilled that WGN-TV’s Morning Show chose Downtown Naperville as the site for their #WGNBlockParty 2019,” said Wood. “It will be a great morning to showcase the many wonderful people and places of Naperville to WGN’s viewers in Chicagoland and beyond!”

From Main Street to Webster, Jackson Avenue will come alive with fun and festivities, during the WGN Block Party & Parade slated for early morning on Fri., July 12. Stay tuned!

Wood noted that the Downtown Naperville Alliance in partnership with the City of Naperville’s Special Events Committee, the Naperville Park District and many other groups have been working together to plan a fun morning filled with entertainment, music, a mini-parade and many special elements.

“We hope people will come and join in the WGN street party fun on Fri., July 12, from 6-10AM!” Wood added.

As PN prepared to go to press, more than 30 local groups had entered the parade to highlight their can-do community spirit. As folks who live here know, Naperville loves a parade!

 

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PN Ombudsman
PN Ombudsman
An ombudsman is Scandinavian in origin dating back to Viking times; and refers to a community representative; usually acting independently on behalf of an organization, body of elected officials, or civic group. Thanks Scandinavia for inventing ombudsman.

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