Crowds flock to 63rd annual Swedish Days parade
David Baert showed up to claim his preferred parade spot at 6 a.m. Sunday, seven hours before the first group started its march. His vantage point was the same shaded portion of State Street from which he has watched the Swedish Days parade for years.
Baert was certainly there early, but some of his fellow Geneva parade goers did him one better, reserving their viewing locales with fold up chairs the night before.
The 63rd annual Swedish Days parade stepped off from the corner of Anderson Boulevard and Center Street, ending at the Metra station on Third Street.
Baert said overall the parade has gotten less impressive as he’s gotten older, but he and his family enjoy showing up each year nonetheless.
“This is fun,” he said. “It’s a chance to see friends from years past.”
Rebecca Colburn was with her 5-year-old daughter, Ella, and 4-year-old son, Oscar, for the parade — a new family tradition since they moved to Geneva about three years ago.
Colburn owns a catering company, Gracious Hall, living and working within blocks of the parade route. The walkable downtown was a major reason why Colburn and her husband decided to relocate their family to the community.
In addition to Swedish Days, the Geneva Chamber of Commerce organizes a number of events throughout the year.
“It keeps the community involved,” Colburn said. “Geneva is a nice place.”
While the Colburns’ children enjoyed the bands, dancers and horse riders Sunday, Darcy DePauw was watching with a farewell in mind. The St. Charles woman is moving to Virginia at the end of July. And besides being a last hurrah, attending gave her a chance to honor one of her dearest friends, the parade’s grand marshal Karen Tatlock.
“Karen is one of the most remarkable women I have ever met,” DePauw said.
Tatlock was chosen for her volunteerism and involvement in the Geneva community, especially through Girl Scouts.
Sunday’s parade was the culmination of a six-day festival, with more than 80 groups participating in the two-hour long walk through town.