The Director of the Illinois Department of Health, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, who will be celebrated for her work surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, will be one of five local celebrities honored during the La Grange Pet Parade Saturday, Sept. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
To ring in the 75th annual event put on by Pet Parade Charities, Jim Peterik, of Survivor and Ides of March fame, will sing the national anthem at 9:20 a.m. before the start of the parade in downtown La Grange in front of Palmer Place.
Josie Dunne, recording artist who grew up in La Grange, will be featured on a float themed around her upcoming album, “Tennis.” According to Dunne’s management company, the singer has worked with several collaborators, including Nathan Chapman, who’s resume includes working with Taylor Swift and The Band Perry. Dunne has also gotten to record vocals at Nashville’s legendary Blackbird Studios.
Other local celebrities being featured in the 1.5 mile parade are Dean Bissias, retiring Director of the Park District of La Grange and WWII Veteran Thurber Stowell. According to a news release, Bissias is being honored for his 28 years of service with the Park District and Stowell was active duty Navy from December 1942 to January 1946.
Village officials said in a release 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.” (A fun fact for those who may not know — throughout the 70’s into the 90’s, WGN-TV televised the parade before LTTV filmed and broadcast it on local access cable.)
In past years, the costume contest was for individuals 16 and under, but now adult categories are included as well with cash and gift certificate prizes for the best dressed.
The four categories to enter are:
Individual kid, 17 and under (with their pet)
Individual adult, 18+ (with their pet)
Kids groups (with their pets)
Family/Any age groups (with their pets)
The event will be adhering to current CDC guidelines, which states, “consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others.”
To sign up, visit the Park District of La Grange or the La Grange Public Library in-person.
Scroll through lagrangepetparade.org for more information.
