Dancing in the streets of St. Charles to celebrate the Arcada’s 100th

From “Twist and Shout” to just “The Twist,” they were dancing in the streets Sunday when hundreds gathered in downtown St. Charles to celebrate the landmark Arcada Theatre’s 100th anniversary.

Highlights of the daylong birthday party included a parade featuring a re-creation of Matthew Broderick’s performance of the Beatles hit in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” and Chubby Checker himself encouraging spectators to do the dance he made famous with his 1955 hit “The Twist.”

Checker wasn’t the only famous face in the crowd. Priscilla Presley held a meet-and-greet with fans inside the 100-year-old Arcada and took part in some of the festivities.

After the parade, crowds could stop to check out special exhibit devoted to the historic venue’s legacy in the front windows of the St. Charles Municipal Building across the street from the theater.

The Arcada opened in 1926 as vaudeville palace and later movie theater, hosting the likes of Judy Garland, George Burns and Gracie Allen and Olivia de Havilland.

These days, it hosts a mix of events, ranging from rock legends to eclectic symphonic acts to blues and jazz performers.