Northwest suburbs celebrate Independence Day
Some sat in the shade under the trees along the Metra tracks.
Others sat on the curb across the street in the midday sun.
All had come to watch Mount Prospect's annual Fourth of July parade on Prospect Avenue.
The parade was just one of the many that drew thousands of Northwest suburban residents to their downtowns Friday to watch parades and attend festivals.
In Mount Prospect, the Lincoln Middle School band - decked out in red, white and blue - played patriotic marches on the back of a flatbed truck.
The streets were littered with candy thrown out by people participating in the parade, and young children ran out between floats to collect every little piece.
Teens in aprons passed out sugar cookies from the Central Continental Bakery.
The Precision Broom Drill Team performed a choreographed dance routine - with brooms - to the Manfred Mann hit "Do Wah Diddy Diddy."
Harold and Carol Busse, whose family has owned and operated Busse's Flowers since 1916, watched the parade from a sunny spot across from the train station.
The Busses walked in the parade for years on behalf of the flower shop.
"This is probably the first time in 50 years we're watching the parade," Carol Busse said.
Peggy Perfecto, who moved to Mount Prospect about six months ago, convinced her husband, John, to come to Friday's parade.
"I love parades," she said. "They're just Americana."