Lombard's Lilac Parade strolls through the decades
Adults attending this year's Lilac Parade in Lombard will be sure to see something they recognize from years past.
The 59th annual parade's theme is “Nostalgia from the '60s, '70s and '80s,” which parade committee chairwoman Erica Fisette said will appeal to younger and “more experienced” parade viewers.
“We're sure to see some tie-dye and some peace signs and maybe some leg warmers for the '80s,” Fisette said. “It should be a fun parade this year.”
Stepping off at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 19, on the last official day of the 83rd annual Lilac Time festival, the parade traditionally draws crowds along Main Street from Wilson Avenue north to Maple Street, where it turns and heads briefly east. The route is otherwise known as “Glenbard East High School to Dairy Queen.”
Those turning out for the annual event will see parade staples like the Lilac Queen, marching bands, clowns, a roller derby team and the Jesse White Tumblers, as well as a few changes and additions this year. The Lombard Fire Department is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2013, so Fisette said its presence at the front of the procession will be heightened.
“We'll have antique firetrucks and Clydesdales,” Fisette said. “We're really looking forward to that because typically the firetrucks kick off the parade, but they're going to have quite a number of units this year.”
The Helen M. Plum Memorial Library will be connecting the theme of the Lilac Parade to the theme of its summer reading program, “Have Book, Will Travel,” said Pam Rivet, marketing assistant.
“Our title of our float is ‘Have Book, Will Time Travel,'” Rivet said. “We will have indications of books you could have gotten in (the) '60s, '70s and '80s. If I can find one, we'll use a lava lamp and fun things that will remind people of what that era was about. But we're all about books.”
The parade also will have three announcing stations along the route, an increase from the lone location where entries were announced in the past. Fisette said two additional locations were added last year to keep more parade viewers informed about what they were seeing.
“We spread out the announcing to keep the parade watchers engaged so they know about the history and the participants,” she said.
Those wanting to hear units announced as they pass by can sit near Lombard Pharmacy at Harrison Road and Main Street; at the central announcing station at the Colonial Commons shopping center near Hickory and Main streets; or at the intersection of Main and Maple streets where the route turns east.
If you go
What: Lombard's Lilac Parade
When: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 19
Where: Heads north on Main Street from Wilson Avenue, turns east at Maple Street
Cost: Free
Info: lombardlilacparade.com
More Lilac Time events
Here's a look at the other Lilac Time events happening this weekend, leading up to the Lilac Parade:
Lilac house walk: “Over the Threshold — A Tour of Distinctive Lombard Homes” features five houses open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 17, with a reception with the homeowners from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Carriage House behind the Victorian Cottage Museum, 23 W. Maple St. Homes are at 124 N. Main St.; 150 N. Main St.; 353 W. Grove St.; 369 W. Grove St.; and 23 W. Maple St. in Lombard. Cost: $30; proceeds benefit charities supported by the Kiwanis Club of Lombard. Info: (630) 408-4412 or kiwaniscluboflombard.org.
Lilac Time samples: Lilac Time's beer and wine tastings will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Lilacia Park, Park and Parkside avenues, Lombard. Info: (630) 620-7322 or villageoflombard.org.
Mutt Strut: Lilac Time's Mutt Strut will be from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Maple Street and Park Avenue, Lombard. On-site registration starts at 7 a.m., which includes a 5K, the One-Mile Puppy Path and a pancake breakfast from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Lilacia Park. Info: (630) 953-6102.