Founders' Goes Mardi Gras Parade marches through Algonquin

Lesia Banks, her husband Gregory and their three children moved to Algonquin less than a year ago from the South Side of Chicago.

On Saturday, they made themselves at home along with hundreds of other residents who showed up to take in the Founders' Goes Mardi Gras Parade.

Founders' Days, a four-day long festival that's always the last full weekend in July, is in its 49th year.

The two-hour parade rolled through historic downtown starting at Eastview School and ended at Washington Street, with kids clamoring for plastic beads and candy.

The Banks family got a kick out of the family entertainment, said the locals have made them feel very welcome and give Algonquin a thumbs up.

"It's a very nice area, I like it," Lesia Banks said. "We made a good transition."

The parade featured more than 100 groups, including local veterans, politicians, police and fire personnel, community groups and businesses.

Former Chicago Bulls player Bob Love served as the parade's grand marshal.

The G-rated Mardi Gras theme, with its glitter, Dixieland jazz and elaborate masks, brought plenty of New Orleans flavor to Algonquin.

But it didn't diminish the hometown feel the village is known for - when a classic white car stalled toward the end of the parade route, five fathers immediately ran behind it and pushed it down Route 31 and up the hill.

Eric Riese has lived in Algonquin for 16 years and makes every attempt to attend the festival each year. They come for the parade and fireworks.

Saturday, his son Luke, 9, was proud to show off all the sweets various groups showered down on him.

His father took one look at his son's score and quipped, "It keeps the town dentist in business."

Other activities Saturday included a bean bag tournament, a family petting zoo and live music.

Founders' Days continues tomorrow at Towne Park with the Little Mr. and Miss child beauty pageant, duck races, one mile, 5k and 10k runs and closes with a fireworks show.

For more information about the festival, visit www.algonquinfoundersdays.com