Parade kicks off Bloomingdale Septemberfest

Bloomingdale's Septemberfest will have quite the lineup for this year's parade - including an airplane.

"There's always been something new," Chairman of the Septemberfest Commission Bill Wolff said.

This year's parade also will feature approximately 23 vehicles, seven floats, 500 walkers and two bands.

The 36th annual festival will be in the village's Old Town area, Lake Street and Bloomingdale Road, and will include entertainment, food, a car show, craft booths and a scholarship contest for local youth.

The parade will kick off at 11 a.m. from DuJardin Elementary School at 166 S. Euclid Ave. and will travel north on Euclid to Schick Road, left on Schick, a right on Third Street and end at Old Town, at 3rd and Franklin streets.

Organizers are offering four $2,000 scholarships to local students.

Wolff was a fireman when at the time of the fest's inception.

"It originally started as a way of community organizations to raise funds," he said. "In 1987 it really started to get some momentum and became a scholarship program.

"I love it because, unlike other fests, this all of a sudden became a fest where they actually raised money for set scholarships within the community, which really meant a lot to me because kids are our future.

"It showed that Bloomingdale was looking to its future by awarding scholarships to kids in its community," he said.

Now, organizers are trying to get the event back to how it used to be - as community-oriented as can be.

"We're trying to draw people from the outside to show them what a wonderful town it is," Wolff said. "The majority of the people who attend this fest are community people."

Septemberfest

Bloomingdale's 36th annual Septemberfest, which starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, will feature music, live entertainment, a car and motorcycle show, parade and foods.

11 a.m." Parade starts at DuJardin Elementary School

Noon: Opening ceremonies and National Anthem

Noon to 3 p.m.: Kids transportation show

12:30 p.m.: M&R Music

1:30 p.m.: Center Stage dance performance

2 to 8 p.m.: Car show

2 to 6 p.m.: Motorcycle show

2 p.m.:: Park District Gymnastic and Drill Team

2:30 p.m.: Dance Xplosion

3 p.m.: The Sting Rays, 50's, 60's and 70's Rock and Roll

5 p.m.: Scholarship award winners announced

5:30 p.m.: Car and motorcycle show winners announced

6 p.m.: M&R Music

7 p.m.: The New Invaders, the ultimate 60s flashback

10 p.m.: M&R Music