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…
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…
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.”
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!”
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!