Fox Lake hosts 52nd Christmas parade
Led by former Fire Chief Stu Hoehne and the current chief, Stu's son Ronald, Fox Lake firefighters kicked off the 52nd annual Korpan's Christmas Parade Saturday.
In honor of the department's 100 years of service, the father and son duo served as parade marshals.
"We've always enjoyed participating in the parade. I was one of the first to represent the department in the early years," said Stu Hoehne, who now lives in Texas. "Today the weather is beautiful and there's no snow, but I remember years when there was a lot of snow."
About 81 local businesses and organizations paraded from Grant Community High School to the Towne Center Shopping Center at Rollins Road and Grand to bring an old-fashioned Christmas to Fox Lake families.
Bennie the Bull danced to tunes and the Grant Community High School Marching Band played "Jingle Bell Rock." Santa even came in from the North Pole to wave to viewers from a motorized float.
Lakeland Cardinals and cheerleaders, ages 5 to 13 years, played kazoos and rode in a holiday-decorated float. Coaches Tom Scharlow and Kurt Bachara dressed as Santa's elves.
"It's a great way to kick of the holidays," said Scharlow.
Ronald McDonald and Grimace from McDonald's, Southpaw, the mascot of the Chicago White Sox, the Tebala Shriners Motor Patrol, Tommy Hawk mascot from the Chicago Blackhawks and "the Funny Little People" all were on hand to celebrate. The Penetangore Pipes and Drums, winners of the 2008 Northern American Championship, marched in the parade for the first time.
"This is a great tradition. Now that we've had the parade, we can celebrate Christmas," said Mayor Cindy Irwin.
Anna Korpan, now deceased, started the parade in 1957, and the Korpan family has been involved ever since. In 2000, the Village of Fox Lake joined in the organizing.
"Walter and Anna Korpan were so involved in our town. They loved to see the kids having fun," said retired Grant Township highway commissioner and village Trustee Jack Kiesgen, who has been in the parade each year since it started. "Rain or shine, the parade went on."
Following the parade, families headed to the Village of Fox Lake Children's Holiday Party where children visited with Santa, ate hot dogs and received holiday stockings.