Schaumburg Septemberfest parade packs Summit Drive

Keith Hinkle showed up at 6 a.m. Monday to stake out a prime location on Summit Drive for his family and friends to watch Schaumburg’s Septemberfest Labor Day Parade.

Hinkle grew up in Schaumburg marching in the parade, so he enjoys watching as the next generation takes his place. And he did so Monday with a group of about 20 under the shade of a tent he put up for Schaumburg’s MadDog Wrestling Academy, which he owns.

“It’s fun,” said Hinkle, who now lives in Streamwood. “It’s a great time.”

Ashley Bryeans and Alexa Palazzo, both 17-year-old Conant High School Poms members, walked along Summit Drive leading the Conant marching band and the cheerleaders, immediately turning around once they finished the route to watch the rest of the show. This is the last parade the two seniors will march in as high school students. They said the turnout was huge this year and the weather stayed cool enough to be comfortable for their lifts and team formations.

“I think it’s just perfect today,” Bryeans said.

The 2010 Schaumburg High School girls cross country team served as grand marshals for the parade, celebrating its state championship win from the last academic year.

Watching his 4-year-old son scramble for candy while holding his 2-year-old, Anthony Zielinski, of Hoffman Estates, enjoyed the parade with a group of about a dozen friends and family members.

“It was a great opportunity to come out and have a great time with the neighborhood,” Zielinski said.

The family spent time at Septemberfest Sunday, too, checking out carnival rides and enjoying the rest of the three-day festival.

A 5K run preceded the parade Monday. An art show, carnival and live entertainment continued the festivities through the rest of Labor Day.