Safari theme a hit at Algonquin parade

Ernest Hemingway would have felt right at home in downtown Algonquin Saturday.

All the wild beasts, dense foliage and explorers dressed in khakis and pith hats would have taken him back to the "Green Hills of Africa."

Thousands gathered along Algonquin's main drag Saturday afternoon to watch safari-themed floats go by in Algonquin's annual Founders Day parade.

Even local politicians got in the spirit of this year's Founders Days theme, "Founders Goes on Safari."

Algonquin Mayor John Schmidt looked like Bungalow Bill riding in a convertible, wearing a pith hat, sunglasses and khaki shirt as he tossed candy to eager children.

Boy Scout Troop 155 guarded a stuffed gorilla in a cage as they held up tiki torches to help light the way through the dense foliage on their float.

Indiana Jones made an appearance on one Boy Scout troop's float - though the large, brightly colored snakes behind him didn't seem to bother him.

Local businesses also got in the adventurous spirit.

The float for All Smiles Dental included giant teeth dressed as lions and a Disney- inspired slogan: "Hakuna Matata: It's Our Floss-ophy."

Not all of the floats were related to the theme, but many were favorites with the crowd nonetheless.

Onlookers waited for a male gymnast with a local gymnastics squad to complete a series of back flips. After a few aborted attempts, he pulled it off masterfully - winning the applause of the crowd.

Students from Super Kids Tae Kwan Do held up wooden boards that kids along the parade route easily broke in half with a punch or a chop.

Mike Schneider, an agent with Re/Max Unlimited Northwest in downtown Algonquin, stood along the parade route and took pictures of the best floats as they went by.

"It's fantastic every year," said Schneider, who lives in Lake Barrington. "It gives you that feeling of community."

Bob Soukup came all the way from Crystal Lake to watch the parade, which he has seen every year for about 15 years.

"I think it's great," Soukup said. "It's just a nice, family-fun day."

The 48th annual Founders Day Festival, which started Thursday, continues today with activities at Towne Park and fireworks at dusk in Riverfront Park.