Northbrook Porch Parade displays alternately clever, creative, patriotic
What would a Fourth of July celebration be without a bubble machine, or a selfie station?
Such were the wonders to behold along the 64 stops that participated in Northbrook's 4th of July Porch Parade.
"As one of the judges, one thing that was really fun for me was seeing how clever and creative people were," said Northbrook Public Library Director Kate Hall, one of the "celebrity judges" selecting winners and runners-up in four categories in the Porch Parade.
"It was just great to see all these things people did in their yards," she said. "When I was driving around I saw a lot of other cars driving and looking at houses, but I also saw a lot of people on bikes touring, and a lot of families safely walking and looking at the houses. So even though we were unable to physically be together I felt the village created an event that still allowed us to celebrate together."
With her background as a children's librarian, Hall said the things that stood out to her were "character-driven displays."
This jibed perfectly with the decorated home of Jacki and Steve Ruh, 2647 Maple Ave., which took first place in the Best Overall category. There were also first-place and runner-up prizes for Most Patriotic, Most Original and Most Likely to Make You Smile.
Jacki Ruh planned on giving their prize - a $50 coupon to any Northbrook restaurant - to their family babysitter, Jamie Edelstein.
An art major, Edelstein used colored chalk to draw images of Disney characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse in patriotic garb on one garage door, and Peanuts characters Snoopy and Woodstock carrying American flags on another garage door, with fireworks exploding behind them.
"I'm going to have her decorate our garage doors for every big holiday and occasion now," Jacki Ruh said.
Their manicured front lawn was dressed with other large patriotic figures, and red, white and blue lettering posted in the grass.
"My kids were very excited," Ruh said of young Everett, Madelyn and Eleanor.
"It was a full day of activities," Jacki said. "A lot of people came by, and our kids were throwing candy and glowsticks at everybody. It was great."
As judges followed the village's map, which included places like the library, Juniper Boutique and North Suburban YMCA in addition to 60 homes, they encountered displays celebrating "Northbrook Strong" and the "Bueller Band." A giant, animatronic Uncle Sam waved at them. One house featured posters made by family members explaining what they liked - and missed this year - about the Fourth of July.
"There was a lot of thought put into these," Hall said.
With everything COVID-19 took away - or postponed, such as the fireworks that were moved to Sept. 5 - Hall appreciated this parade.
"Northbrook has such a strong Fourth of July tradition. Obviously the normal parade down Cherry and Shermer, the Rotary pancake breakfast, the police-fire baseball game, the 5K Liberty run, the events the park district does as well and, of course, the fireworks," she said.
"There's these events that have been established for decades, so I know people are really sad when none of those are happening. I love that the village came up with this alternative."
Here is a list of the Northbrook Porch Parade winners:
Overall Best
• 2647 Maple Ave.
• 1125 Walnut Lane
Most Patriotic
• 2323 Walters Ave.
• 1346 Shermer Road
Most Original
• 2201 Center Ave.
• 2208 Crabtree Lane
Most Likely to Make You Smile
• 2703 Crabtree Lane
• 1762 Birch Road
Source: northbrook.il.us