Independence Day celebrations in Wheaton start a day early this year to make time for all the exciting activities planned by the Wheaton Park District.
Beginning July 3rd at 6pm, Wheaton’s Graf Park will open for old-fashioned fun with picnicking and people watching. New-fangled fun for the kids is also on the agenda. Carnival rides, including a giant slide, kiddie ferris wheel and inflatable obstacle course, will be set up in the park. Classic arcade games like the duck pond and boom blaster, as well as running races, have also been scheduled. DJ Gabe will be on deck from 6:00pm playing classic rock, pop, and a patriotic song or two to keep toes tapping.
Pack your own picnic or buy something tasty at the park. Genoa Italian Concessions will be serving Italian sausage, pizza and homemade chips. And for dessert? Elephant ears!
“We want families to come out, set up a blanket and enjoy the evening,” says Dan Novak, Superintendent of Special Facilities for the Wheaton Park District. “The fireworks will definitely top off the evening with a bang.”
Adjacent to the DuPage County Fairgrounds, Graf Park is a perfect location for viewing the fireworks. This year’s fireworks will explode with nearly twenty-five minutes of color and sound arranged by the internationally award-winning, Melrose Pyrotechnics. Wheaton North Graduate, Micah Tryba, will start the fireworks show by singing our national anthem at approximately 8:45pm.
In recognition of this year’s theme, The Fabric of America, Wheaton Park District will also offer families an opportunity to contribute to the Tile Wall Project, a visual quilt being designed by residents for permanent display at the Community Center.
On Monday, July 4th, Wheaton’s parade steps off at 10 am. The parade is a long-standing tradition for the city and is noted as one of the oldest and largest in the state. Whole families come out early to set up blankets and chairs on the well-known route along Main Street. Margie Wilhelmi, Marketing Director for the Wheaton Park District added, “The 4th falls on a Monday this year, so we’re returning to the traditional start time–which is nice because people can enjoy the parade in the morning and still have plenty of time for family picnics.”
Another Wheaton parade tradition is honoring a local citizen as Parade Grand Marshall. Jane Hodgkinson, retiring Executive Director of the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association, has been named this year Parade’s Grand Marshall. Ms. Hodgkinson has been recognized for decades of service in DuPage as an advocate for families with special needs.
With the sponsorship of Jerry Haggerty Chevrolet, Community Bank and the DuPage Republicans over eighty parade entries including bands, clowns, politicians and floats will entertain a crowd expected to number in the tens of thousands.
“I’ll never forget the way the crowd responded to the Battalion of Military Uniforms from past to present, as they marched past last year,” recalled Novak. “Standing ‘O’– kids, parents, everyone just spontaneously stood up. What a great memory.”
Wheaton Park District invites you to join the Fabric of America Celebration July 3rd and 4th and make a great Independence Day memory with your family and friends.
A complete schedule of activities for the July 3rd and 4th Fabric of America Celebration is available at www.wheatonparkdistrict.com or friend the Wheaton Park District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wheatonparks.
SIDEBAR: Wheaton’s Independence Day – Old Style
As the County Seat, Wheaton’s 4th of July celebrations have woven a long and glorious history into the fabric of Americana. Times have changed but parades, picnics and pyrotechnics have been part of the celebration for over a hundred years.
Parades
1896 – “Animals of every size!” This parade included a pet parade with “Everything from an elephant to hummingbird.” They had a pet elephants back then?
1932 – Floats depicting the “History of Wheaton” and the “Life of George Washington” rolled past a crowd of 20 thousand visitors, who’d come to town to celebrate Washington’s bicentennial birthday.
1946—The “Oldest Couple” was apparently a classic parade entry at this time. (Who would volunteer for that job nowadays?) Another favorite was the “Decorated Bicycle Division.” But this year’s winning float was a depiction of the Joe Louis Heavyweight fight—by a pair of 7 year-olds.
1964—A squad of moms pushing bedecked baby buggies were a big hit in this parade. Something to think about when you wheel the jogging stroller down to Main Street.
1952—The Wheaton Fire Department thrilled the crowd by “contributing their gleaming new pumper!”
1978—High school bands aren’t the only drums around. This year’s bands added international flair: “The Arabesque Oriental Band” was followed by the “Scottish Highland Band–in kilts and carrying bagpipes.”
Picnics
1860 – “Hundreds of people marched in procession” to the town picnic at “the Grove” where tea and sandwiches were served. Apparently, “the Band discoursed most excellent music and the Village choir made the woods vocal with song.” Sounds like a rockin’ good time!
1932 – “Basket suppers” were enjoyed with the usual foot races, water fights and baseball games.
1951 – Kids in Memorial Park were encouraged to finish their ice cream treats before the exciting, live broadcast of “Captain Stuby and His Buccaneers” on radio station WLS. How could the horse-shoe pitching, card games and softball hope to compete with that?
Pyrotechnics
1896 – “The expenditure for fireworks was unusually large. The night will doubtless be lighter than day!”
Year after year, fireworks are reported as “beautiful,” “awesome,” and “incredible,” because when it comes to Independence Day Celebrations, some things never change.
This article was prepared with help from the Reference Desk at the Wheaton Public Library.
