Festive Libertyville parade provides fun for young and old

There was dancing, singing and marching in the street Saturday as the Libertyville Days parade made its way down Milwaukee Avenue.

Fire trucks, cheerleaders, civic leaders and Scouts were among 100 different community groups and businesses that participated in the parade from the Metra commuter train station, south on Milwaukee Avenue and west on Rockland Road to Highland School.

The parade was the highlight of the third day of the four-day event and featured 26 music units, 19 floats, 16 marching groups, nine bands, 10 specialty units, seven giant balloons and 25 cars. The fest is the main fundraiser of the Libertyville Civic Center Foundation Inc.

Libertyville's St. Lawrence Episcopal Church, celebrating its 100th anniversary, featured a replica of the church, a downtown landmark, on its float.

"It's fun to be in the parade and to see my friends and throw candy to the kids," said Wendy Springgate, a sophomore at Libertyville High School, who rode on the St. Lawrence float.

The parade delighted the ear with music ranging from bagpipes to kazoos. For the first time, the Navy Band Great Lakes played at the event. "We have 25 members here today, playing woodwinds and brass, in our first time performing at this event," said band director George Fritz.

Soaring above the street, to the delight of onlookers, were larger-than-life helium balloons, including a giant orange-and-black wildcat, a 24-foot-long Dalmatian, a larger-than-life puppy, a blue airplane, a giant goose, an American eagle and Uncle Sam.

Humo, the Chicago Fire's popular Dalmatian mascot, and Nick Mitrovich, the team's public address announcer, were on hand representing Serbian churches in Illinois, along with teens dressed in native costumes.

"Each year our group gets larger," said Anne Krosnjar, who coordinated the float.

Libertyville High School Poms and cheerleaders marched, as did the Indian Princesses, including the Taranowski sisters: Claire, 6 and Laurie, 4, who marched with their dad Bill Taranowski.

"We have three generations here," said their mom, Diane Taranowski, on hand to watch the parade along with her 18-month-old son, David, and Mary Taranowski, the girls' grandmother.

Libertyville Days continues today with the Taste of Libertyville, a craft show, beer garden, carnival rides and Guitar Hero contests in the downtown area in and around Cook Park. Visit www.libciviccenter.org for details.