Everything You Need to Know about Saturday's Homecoming Parade

Get up and go on a sunshine-predicted Saturday morning for the 60th Annual Plainfield Community Homecoming Parade.

The huge parade will step off at 9 a.m. Saturday on Lockport Street near Van Dyke Road. It will proceed east to Illinois Street, south to Commercial Street, west to James Street and south to Fort Beggs Drive.

The parade will last about two hours and will feature floats, bands, cheerleaders and pom squads, homecoming courts, honor guards, athletic teams, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, fire trucks, local businesses and politicians.

“Favorable weather predicted and 140 parade entries are going to bring more people to watch this spectacular event,” Cmdr. Anthony Novak said. “I’d definitely say we’re going to have over 15,000 people.”

Also making an appearance will be Little Obie, the scaled-down version of a train that features a caboose, engine and flat car. It is the only one in the continental U.S. and comes to town once again, Novak said, thanks to a relationship between the Plainfield Police Department and the Canadian National Railway.

Held in the midst of homecoming festivities at the four Plainfield high schools, the parade is presented by the Plainfield High School Alumni Association.

“Back in the day when there was one high school, one middle school and five elementary schools, every grade participated with a float. Now with the district being so big every school is invited to participate and different schools participate each year,” alumni association President Ingrid Price said. “We try to keep it local and get kids to participate.”

“I am excited,” said Kaitlin Duran, 13, who will perform in the parade with the color guard from . Last year she helped build the school’s award-winning float. “The parade is a lot of fun and has a lot of floats.”

The judging/review stand will be at Lockport and Des Plaines streets near Price’s business, Andreasen Travel & Tours. She and alumni association member Kathy Kazmar will announce each entry during the parade over the village’s public address system.

Plainfield High School alumni are invited to the annual alumni gathering, historically known as a tea, at 11 a.m. Saturday in the cafeteria.

“It’s a 5-minute meeting and a lot of conversation,” Price said. “We’re hoping to get more and more people involved with the alumni association.”

An alumni barbecue luncheon will follow from noon to 2 p.m.

The Plainfield Central Wildcats varsity homecoming game against the Plainfield East Bengals will be at 1 p.m. Saturday.

This year’s parade theme is “Start a Chain-Reaction.”

The theme pays tribute to Rachel Joy Scott, who was killed in the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, and her life’s desire to create a chain reaction of kindness to be paid forward.

has enveloped the theme with various activities throughout the school year.

The parade grand marshal is Chuck Anderson, a former math teacher and principal in Plainfield. He was the homecoming parade announcer for 28 years. During his radio career in Joliet, he became known for his trademark opening: “Welcome to Plainfield, the garden spot of the mid-west, where the luscious green grasses are nestled snugly along the swirling crystal clear waters of the mighty DuPage!”

Plainfield police will be assisted in traffic and crowd control, Novak said, by emergency management agencies from Plainfield, Romeoville, Lemont, Lockport, Manhattan and Will County along with several police officers from Shorewood.

In addition to the parade and alumni events, homecoming festivities at Plainfield Central also will include Spirit Day Thursday and Friday, a free screening of “Despicable Me” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday on the football practice field for Community Night, a pep assembly Friday, the sophomore football game at 7 p.m. Friday and the Homecoming Dance on Saturday night.

The Plainfield North High School Tigers’ homecoming game against Oswego East will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 14.

Plainfield North High School’s Homecoming Week also will include Spirit Days Tuesday to Oct. 14, a powder puff game at 7 p.m. Oct. 12, bonfire party at 7 p.m. Oct. 13, pep assembly Oct. 14 and the Homecoming Dance Oct. 15.

Plainfield South and Plainfield East high schools had homecoming festivities last week.

Parking:

Parking is available at downtown municipal lots, Ira Jones Middle School (15320 Wallin Drive, site of the parade lineup), Plainfield Central High School on Fort Beggs Drive, Renwick Community Park (on Renwick Road between Route 59 and River Road) and on streets unless marked.

Road Closures/Traffic Delays:

The parade will cause road closures, traffic tie-ups and delays in and around the village and Plainfield Central High School.

From 7:30 a.m. to noon, motorists are advised to avoid downtown and sections of routes 30 and 126. All roads are expected to reopen by noon.

All lanes on Route 59 will be open, but backups are expected.

Road closures will begin at 6 a.m. on Ottawa Street and 8:15 a.m. elsewhere.

For more information, visit http://www.psd202.org or call 815-577-4433 or 815-436-3200.