Warrenville emphasizes environment in July 4th celebration

Red, white and blue - and green?

Although one seems out of place, these are the colors Warrenville is using to commemorate this year's Fourth of July, with the theme "Red, White, Blue and Green: Warrenville Gets It."

"We have an emphasis on the environment and being green," said Vivian Lund, former Warrenville mayor and chairwoman for the committee Friends of the Fourth, which is organizing a two-day independence celebration.

The earth-friendly emphasis may be most visible in the parade, which steps off at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 3, in downtown Warrenville.

With 60 to 70 entries, parade highlights include the Jesse White Tumblers, Tunes of Glory Pipes and Drums and a marching band made up of home-schooled children.

"Our environmental commission members are going to be the parade judges and our parade floats are encouraged to do something to connect with the green effort," Lund said.

The entries in the parade that are not paid to be there will be judged and awards will be given out for categories like best theme.

Independence Celebration activities get off to a quick start on Saturday with the Firecracker 5K run and walk, which steps off at 8 a.m. from the Warrenville Park District Recreation Center, 3S260 Warren Ave. More than 300 participants are expected to take part in the race.

"I think it's great way of kicking it off and getting people excited to come down to events and stuff that happens at Cerny Park," race director Kama Bagjas said.

A new 50-yard tot race for ages 3 to 6 and a 100-yard dash for ages 6 to 10 also have been added to the morning race lineup this year.

Other first-day highlights include a performance by The New Odyssey, a band of three men who play 30 instruments, along with concession stands featuring dozens of local vendors from 4 to 11:30 p.m.

Celebrations resume at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 4, when kids of all ages ride their decorated bicycles at the children's parade. Hours of karaoke, water fights, historical bingo, horseshoes and various competitions follow.

Kids also can watch a magician, climb a wall, bounce in a moon jump and have their faces painted between noon and 6 p.m. for free.

"The only thing you have to buy is, if you want to, food or beverages," Lund said. "We have a lot of local vendors and the prices are pretty reasonable."

Three more bands will play throughout the second day, two of which perform classic rock and another specializing in music from the '70s and beyond. At 9:15 p.m., on everything shuts down for a fireworks show in Cerny Park, an event Lund said attracts several thousand people each year.

"Warrenville - it's such a small, hometown feeling that it's like a big party downtown," said Kellie Becket, treasurer for Friends of the Fourth. "It's a great celebration."

Lund agrees, and hopes that this year's celebration will be a little more successful than the previous one.

"Last year we took a real hit because it rained on the night of the third," she said. "But we had enough reserves that we were able to weather that storm, and we're hoping we don't have a similar one this year."

<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p>

<p class="News"><b>What: </b>Warrenville's Independence Celebration</p>

<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 4 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, July 3, with Firecracker 5K at 8 a.m.; 12:30 to 9:15 p.m. Sunday, July 4, with fireworks following</p>

<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Cerny Park, near Woodland and Ferry Roads</p>

<p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> Free</p>

<p class="News"><b>Info:</b> (630) 393-1186 or <a href="http://warrenville.il.us" target="new">warrenville.il.us</a></p>