‘Parades are cool:’ Arlington Heights parade is patriotic fun

What could get six teenagers off their phones?

Something sweet and old-fashioned — the Frontier Days Fourth of July Parade in Arlington Heights.

“Parades are cool,” said Billy Dugan, who was there with five friends Saturday morning.

The boys, who are 15 and sophomores at Hersey High School, said they came “to look at all the cool stuff here,” said Spencer Wiggs.

There was, of course, some jostling for the candy and squeezy toys the parade marchers were throwing in to the crowd, including a miniature toilet.

“You can fit in with all the little kids,” Chase Varrato teased Dugan, who was a couple inches shorter than the rest of the guys.

“See me! See me!” Dugan yelled to the marchers.

“Oh my God! The Wienermobile!” one exclaimed. “Are they throwing hot dogs?”

Alas, it did not. But several parade units garnered love from the crowd by distributing freeze pops.

The parade was part of the 50th annual Frontier Days festival.

While there weren’t many floats, plenty of civic, church and business groups marched or rode along in cars and trucks. One girl from an Arlington Heights Park District swim team was pulled in a wagon. “A broken toe can’t stop a Crocodile!,” read a sign on the wagon.

High school bands performed medleys of patriotic music. A pickleball business had people playing the sport as they walked.

The candy distribution began with representatives from the police and fire departments tossing sweets toward the crowd. A Democratic politician handed out small U.S. flags.

“It’s a pretty nice parade,” said Russ Samyn, who attended along with his wife, Anne. They have lived in Arlington Heights for 13 years.

The festival continues from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday at Recreation Park, 500 E. Miner St.