Palatine Jaycees seek participants for Fourth of July Parade, expo

Palatine's Hometown Fest is in its 66th year, and parade and expo applications are now open through the Palatine Jaycees' website, www.hometownfest.org.

The Jaycees are looking for local organizations, crafters, artists, nonprofits and businesses to participate in both events.

The parade will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 1, kicking off at Cedar and Slade, and headed through downtown. There are opportunities for groups who would like to enter a float/vehicle or simply march. Parade entries cost $75 for nonprofits and organizations and $125 for businesses. The parade will be filmed and judged in several categories.

The Hometown Fest's Arts and Crafts, Business and Charity Expo runs Saturday and Sunday, July 1-2, in Community Park, Palatine Road and Northwest Highway.

Registered exhibitors will be assigned a 12-by-12-foot space on a first-come, first-served basis. Arts and crafts booths cost $125, business booths cost $200, and nonprofit booths cost $20. The Jaycees will be available to help vendors load and transport items, during both setup and tear down.

Since 1957, the Palatine Jaycees have partnered with the village and park district to host Hometown Fest, Palatine's Fourth of July Celebration. The festival includes fireworks, entertainment, food vendors, a parade, a carnival, a business expo and craft fair and many other family activities.

The expo draws in more than 60 exhibits annually and the parade is attended by thousands from Palatine and the surrounding communities.

Proceeds from Hometown Fest benefit Palatine by funding community projects, community grants, high school scholarships, and more.

The Palatine Jaycees meets at 7:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at Arlington Lanes in Arlington Heights. For information, visit www.palatinejaycees.org or email info@palatinejaycees.org.