A full slate of unique vehicles, bands and individuals representing local organizations, animals and floats — more than 60 entries — are scheduled to participate in Hinsdale’s Fourth of July Parade, which kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4 at Garfield Avenue and Sixth Street.

The parade will be followed by a festival in Burlington Park, just north of Memorial Hall, 20 E. Maple St.

“We have another great lineup for the parade and festival, a real good variety,” said Gina Hassett, director of the village’s Park and Recreation Department, which puts on the event.

Three high school marching bands — Hinsdale Central High School, Leyden High School and Proviso East High School — are slated to march in the parade, Hassett said.

Among the entrants will be elected officials including Hinsdale Village President Tom Cauley, Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso and Westmont Mayor William Rahn. Former Hinsdale Village President Michael Woerner will serve as the 2009 parade grand marshal.

“It is an honor to be this year’s grand marshal; it’s kind of cool,” said Woerner. “Every community has their own special event or parade, and Hinsdale’s parade has been its signature event for decades. ... It is the kind of community event that, it seems, everybody comes out an participates in some way.”

The U.S. Armed Forces also will be well represented. American Legion Post 250 will provide the color guard, and other entrants such as the 104th Volunteer Infantry, 10th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, the Sheridan Cavalry Chapter of the U.S. Army, World War II re-enactors, Sons of Union veterans, representatives of the 82nd Airborne re-enactors and even a U.S. Coast Guard boat will take part.

The Wells Fargo Home Mortgage stagecoach will bring up the rear of the parade.

You want vehicles?

The lineup includes police cars, firetrucks, a 1930 Stutz convertible, a Corvette Club and the popular Medinah Motor Corps, a group of motorcyclists who have appeared in area parades since 1953.

Community organizations such as Hinsdale Humane Society, Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce, Community House Players, Hinsdale Rotary and Hinsdale Masonic Lodge also will march in the parade.

A festival — including children’s activities, food/beverage vendors, a craft fair, games and a petting zoo — will take place immediately following the parade in Burlington Park, with most activities ending about 3:30 p.m.

The west Suburban Concert Band will perform from noon until 1:30 p.m., and an art fair is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

One of the highlights of the festival will be the Rotary Club of Hinsdale’s annual turtle races, run on Chicago Avenue immediately following the parade. Hundreds of children are provided a red pail containing a turtle, and the turtles are set loose in groups of about 10 per race to inch along a 6-foot course to a finish line.

“It’s just a lot of fun to watch the kids take part, screaming and yelling at their turtles,” said Greg Donnelly, past president o the Rotary club of Hinsdale and event organizer.

The theme of the turtle races is “This Could Take Awhile,” Donnelly said.

“We want to make it very clear no turtle is ever in danger or harmed during the event,” Donnelly said.
The races are free and open to the public, and winners of each race receive a small trophy.

“We gather all the winners from the different individual races and have one final race, and the grand champion receives a very large trophy,” Donnelly said.