Suburban fans cheer on their Cubbies
Kaylee Mueller, a bride-to-be from Pingree Grove, was attired Saturday in a Cubbie blue veil and a T-shirt that said "Last swing before the ring."
Her bachelorette party at Wrigley Field was perfectly timed, said Mueller 27.
"I've been a longtime Cub's fan, so this has been exciting," Mueller said.
Mueller was joined by her future groom, Eric Barber, 25, of Pingree Grove, and several of their bridal party. While this personal celebration was planned nearly two months ago, their happiness at the Chicago Cubs cinching a wild card berth was mirrored in the reactions of thousands of other fans filling the streets around Wrigley Field early Saturday.
A steady stream of people was going through the gates into the stadium as well as in and out of local bars and souvenir shops.
Dorothy Arato, 60, of Glen Ellyn, has been a Cubs fan since she was 5 years old and she was eager to get to her seat.
"We've been waiting for this for a long time," she said. "Everyone in my family is excited, even those who aren't with us anymore. I have a lot of dead people with me today."
Bob Barrett, 59, of Palatine, is a die-hard season ticket holder for the Cubs.
"It kind of ends about seven years of suffering," he said. "So we're excited that they're in the process. It's worth the wait."
Don Miller, 66, of Glendale Heights has been selling game day program books at Wrigley Field for about 10 years. He's been selling at least 50 percent more programs lately. But mostly, he said, he has seen a change in the faces of his customers.
"They're all excited," said Miller. "That usually hasn't been the case in September."
Megan Harvey, 30, of Hampshire and part of the Mueller bridal party, said coming on this day was even more special because it was with her close friends to celebrate an upcoming wedding.
"We're all Cubs fans and most of my family are Cubs fans," she said. "And to come today is great and it's really great they're going to be in the playoffs."