Elk Grove Village parade, Oktoberfest return next weekend
Sidelined last year due to the pandemic, two big community events will return to Elk Grove Village next weekend.
The village's annual Oktoberfest kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, at Rotary Green, located next to Elk Grove High School. Festivities on Saturday begin with the Hometown Parade along Elk Grove Boulevard at 2 p.m. The march ends at the festival grounds, where day two of the outdoor fall celebration starts at 3 p.m.
Both events were canceled last year amid concerns with COVID-19 and social distancing requirements. It was only the second time the village's long-standing parade was postponed since launching in 1998; extreme heat upended the procession in 2018.
In 2019, organizers decided to hold the parade in conjunction with Oktoberfest for the first time.
This year's parade theme is "My Favorite Things" - floats will feature a collection of all treasured things, from sports to food, and music to books. The Grand Marshal is the Elk Grove Village Community Character Coalition.
Some 40 Shriners, in town for the annual Great Lakes Shrine Association conference in nearby Itasca, will be participating with clowns, bands, minicars and horse units.
Oktoberfest runs from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, with oompa band Paloma performing through the night. On Saturday, the fest is from 3 to 11 p.m., with children's games and activities from 3 to 7 p.m., fireworks at 8 p.m., and German folk/pop band Alpine Thunder from 6 to 10:30 p.m.
The fest is free to attend, with food and drink available for purchase.