What time should we meet at the parade line-up area?

All entries should plan on being at the line-up area by 9:00am and be ready to go at 9:30am. Large numbers of walking unit participants should line-up inside the park area and be ready to "fall in" when the parade starts.

Where do we line-up for the parade?

Streets are on-way on parade day (north on Franklin, east on Lemoyne, south on Ashland). Participants are to report to Constitution Park (Willard School) with the "Parade Head" located at Ashland Avenue and Division Street. Parade entry numbers will be staked in the ground with #1 located at Ashland and Division. Please see the Parade Line-Up Map for approximate line-up locations. No parking of any vehicles will be allowed around the Parade Line-Up area. Only parade entrants and drop-offs will be allowed near the line-up area. Park District staff and Service Club volunteers will be around to provide assistance.

What time does the parade start and where do we go?

The parade commences at 9:30am SHARP; stepping off from Constitution Park (Willard School). The parade will proceed south on Ashland Avenue to Lake Street, then west on Lake Street to Keystone Park.

Driving and Marching in the parade?

Please keep pace with the groups in front of you. Drive carefully and be aware of people in the street and close to you. Please don't allow gaps to form.

What do I do with my parade candy/marketing material?

Candy and marketing material WILL BE ALLOWED to be distributed along the parade route. Candy and marketing material may ONLY BE HANDED OUT to parade spectators along the curb. For safety and insurance purposes, no candy or marketing material may be thrown from vehicles/floats/marchers or from anyone in the parade. Any organization caught throwing candy or marketing material will be removed from the parade route and prohibited from participating in future Memorial Day Parades.

What do we do at the end of the parade?

The parade ends at Keystone Park where there will be a Memorial Day Ceremony and FREE Community Picnic. At the close of the parade, entries will be allowed to park on any block north of Lake Street, and in The Depot Parking What Lot at 401 Thatcher Avenue (Metra Train Station).

Don't like your parade position?

We can't stress how much work goes into the parade line-up in order to provide a balanced and cohesive show for those thousands of faces lining the parade route. We recognize that not all will like their parade line-up placement, but you must realize that the front, middle, and end of the parade are all import to us — that's what makes for a good parade. Thank you for your cooperation.

Who do I call on parade day if I have questions?

Karen Stille at 1-847-951-1058

Emergency Response Plan

In the event of severe weather/lightning detected in the Village after 9:00am, or severe weather/lightning predicted in the Village during the parade hours, the event will be cancelled. Should the event be cancelled, River Forest Police will notify all residents on the parade route, and the River Forest Park District will be responsible notify all parade participants in the staging area.

1. The River Forest Park District will make a cancellation announcement via PA system. The River Forest Park District has also created an Emergency Contact list of all entries and will call parade contacts. Parade contacts should have their cell phones with them and powered on the morning of the parade.
2. Parade Cancellations will be posted on the River Forest Park Distrct rain hotline at 708 802 1314.
3. Feel free to call Karen Stiles, Superintendent of Recreation, at 847 951 1058 or Mike Sletten, Executive Director at 708 890 1092.
4. When in doubt, stay at home should severe weather strike.