Patrons and fans enjoyed nice late summer weather as they watched and participated in the La Grange Pet Parade Saturday, which emphasized its theme of 75 Years Strong for its 75th Anniversary.
Besides pets, featured in the parade was Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Director of the Illinois Department of Health, one of five local celebrities honored. Ezike was celebrated for her work surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
Other local celebrities who were featured in the 1.5 mile parade included Dean Bissias, retiring Director of the Park District of La Grange and WWII Veteran Thurber Stowell. According to a news release, Bissias was honored for his 28 years of service with the Park District and Stowell was active duty Navy from December 1942 to January 1946.
Jim Peterik, of Survivor and Ides of March fame, will sing the national anthem, and Josie Dunne, recording artist who grew up in La Grange, was featured on a float themed around her upcoming album, “Tennis.”
Village officials said the La Grange Pet Parade was launched in 1947 by the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce headed by Ed Breen of Breen’s Cleaners to “bring the community together around the idea of a pet and child costume contest parading down the Main Street of town.”
Included in the parade were La Grange town officials, Boy Scout Packs and Girl Scouts Troops, the Trinity Irish Dancers, the Jesse White Tumblers, Mrs. Illinois American Tiffany Wells, Mrs. Illinois American 2020 Dr. Chris Baek, West Suburban Shriner’s Club 57 Chevys, the DuPage Shine Club Ride on Coolers, and more than 80 other units.
Here are some more pictures from the parade:
