Labor Day 2022: Naperville, Schaumburg parade organizers focus on safety

CHICAGO (WLS) — A Labor Day parade is underway in west suburban Naperville Monday morning, and safety is top-of-mind.

A whole lot of individuals have lined the streets of Naperville, together with Essential Road, to carry the annual parade, which is a part of the town’s annual Final Fling.

There are marching bands, floats, outdated tractors and extra. Naperville is celebrating one other lengthy Labor Day weekend competition with the annual occasion.

Many lined up early to get a great place.

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The Naperville Jaycees, who manage each the parade and the weekend Final Fling fest have mentioned it is lots of exhausting work.

“Yearly we’re all the time speaking to police division, the town to verify our patrons are secure. That may be a very prime precedence,” mentioned Beth Degeeter, co-director of the Naperville Jaycees. “With the issues that occurred previously months, we have truly had extra conferences and extra discussions simply to guarantee that everybody feels secure and is secure.”

The Jaycees mentioned it takes a 12 months to plan the occasion, and most of it’s completed by volunteers.

“We have come right here yearly, and now I carry my children right here,” Bobbi Olmstead mentioned. “We sit in the identical spot by the bridge, and the entrance of the parade is all the time thrilling as a result of they’ve probably the most sweet, which is what the children like greatest.”

This 12 months’s parade marshals included native Particular Olympics athletes.

In Schaumburg, sirens rang within the Golden Anniversary of the Septemberfest Labor Day Parade.

Firefighters marched collectively, carrying the American Flag, adopted by probably the most lovable SWAT crew member. (Shot of younger boy in SWAT outfit)

“It is nostalgic, you already know? I used to march within the Schaumburg Marching Band right here, so coming again and seeing all that, seeing lots of acquainted faces, seeing outdated buddies,” mentioned Paul Tschammer, who grew up in Schaumburg.

1000’s of individuals packed the parade path to the brim. The Jesse White Tumblers flew via the air, marching bands set the tone and youngsters had been showered with sweet.

“It is good to have everybody as a household take pleasure in and rejoice. It is about freedom, it is about having rights to do no matter you wish to do,” mentioned Mike Anderson, a Schaumburg resident.

However, parade-goers aren’t taking this celebration without any consideration.

“I believe each neighborhood wants this. We have not had it in so lengthy. It is an thrilling time for everyone, we have to be right here. We have to be exterior. We have to say hiya to our neighbors,” mentioned Renae Hendricksen, a Schaumburg resident.

The 2-mile celebration was on pause the final two years due to COVID.

“It is so good as a result of I like seeing all of the folks right here coming collectively. We actually missed out on that with COVID,” mentioned Schaumburg resident Kellie Capesius.

Attendees might really feel the safety presence alongside the parade route. Village of Schaumburg snow plows blocked busy intersections close to the parade and a helicopter hovered above, maintaining a tally of the crowds from the sky.

“I believe it simply reveals how sturdy we will come collectively and work collectively,” mentioned Kaela Hendricksen, a Schaumburg resident.

Renae Hendricksen additionally weighed in.

“I belief Schaumburg, they’ve an ideal division. There’s police round, so it is good to see that they’ve eyes on everyone right here,” Hendricksen mentioned.

Within the metropolis, was an end-of-summer celebration for the books.

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It wasn’t the very best climate to work with Monday, marking the tip of summer time.

However nonetheless, folks had been getting their celebrations in, whether or not that be having fun with themselves on the seaside or a Labor Day barbecue.

The sounds of summer time have been coming to a detailed.

“We sponsor reside music each Labor Day, since 1968 in case you can imagine it,” mentioned Paul Petraitis of Paul’s Damaged Radio Band. “After COVID, it is exhausting to rebuild these connections that we took without any consideration.”

Greenstone United Methodist Church within the Pullman neighborhood hosted a barbecue Monday, that includes smoked beef brisket, ribs and turkey.

“That is annual for us, and we like to come back out and attain out to the neighborhood,” mentioned Greenstone United Methodist Church Chair Randy Livingston. “We have to be collectively. We have to focus and give attention to one another and serving to one another, working with one another.”

The seaside season can also be coming to an finish after Monday. Seashores in Chicago formally shut for swimming at 7 p.m. and can now not be staffed with lifeguards.

“She wished to have some enjoyable earlier than the autumn begins and sort of a closing seaside day,” mentioned CJ Vasco.

Regardless of the cloud protection, the seashores have been packed.

“I got here right here yesterday, however I did not have my swimsuit so I got here once more at the moment, as a result of I wish to go in,” mentioned Prateek Gubta, who was visiting from Dallas. “Really I like chilly climate throughout seashores, in order that’s why I am right here.”

Folks performed spike ball and volleyball. They rode bikes and threw Frisbees, simply with an additional layer of clothes on.

“So I acquired my shorts, I acquired my shirt within the bag, since you by no means know what is going on to occur,” mentioned Aaron Solomon. “It is a little bit chilly out however you already know folks round, it is a good day.”

These actions got here after a Seashore Hazard was in impact all weekend via Monday morning.

“We checked the climate. It was sunny, however then it occurred to be cloudy. However then, I used to be okay with it,” mentioned Nikhila Gubta, who was visiting from Cleveland.

Labor Day on the seaside can nonetheless be enjoyable, even when it isn’t that sunny.

Most public swimming pools within the metropolis and suburbs normally shut after Monday as properly. All indoor park swimming pools, nevertheless, will reopen for the autumn season this week.