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Chicago Tribune
04-07-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
For Aurora residents, Fourth of July parade in city's downtown a patriotic tradition
For Kasey Diestelkamp of Aurora and her family, the city's annual Fourth of July parade is a must before her family thinks about backyard barbecues or anything else that might accompany the holiday. 'We always come to the parade,' she said while holding her daughter Beckett, who is almost 3 years old. 'We come every year. We live down the street and ride our bikes and it's an important holiday for families to get together. After the parade, we go home and change into our swimsuits and go to our in-laws where we swim and we eat. But it wouldn't be the Fourth of July without the parade. That's the start of everything.' Beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, Aurora welcomed in the Fourth of July with the city's annual parade that kicked off at the intersection of Benton Street and Broadway downtown. The night before, the city celebrated America's 249th birthday with a Thursday evening fireworks show. The parade on Friday featured more than 30 floats, a number that officials said was similar to years past. 'This is an important day for Aurorans as well as all of our surrounding communities and the nation,' said Jon Zaghloul, communications manager for the city of Aurora, before the parade began. 'Our grand marshal is Hugo Saltijeral, who is such a welcome part of the community. He is what Aurora is – he's someone who is resilient, who is generous and who is very actively involved in pretty much everything that goes on here in Aurora.' According to a press release from the city, Saltijeral gives back to the community in many ways and 'currently serves as the executive director of the Valley Sheltered Workshop, leading a bold transformation in disability services.' Zaghloul noted that Friday 'is a great opportunity for city residents to come out and celebrate America's birthday and have a fun time watching all of the great floats and groups that walk in the parade.' 'This is very similar to Memorial Day where people can come to the parade and then take some time to relax. It's primarily a day off for most people and a great opportunity to come together downtown and celebrate and then have family time,' he said. Spotty rain which moved into the area before the parade helped keep things cooler this year as thousands gathered along the parade route. Brie Blue, 28, of Yorkville, said she was the head coach for the West Aurora High School cheerleaders and while the school has participated in the parade for many years, 'this is the first time for this coaching staff to be in it.' 'The importance of today is kind of what I coach my kids in all the time – it's all of us coming together and celebrating all our accomplishments and our future and what we have and everyone who came before us,' Blue said. 'It's like our alumni and all of those who served for us – fought for our country. The girls are super-excited about being in the parade. They love walking in it and doing community involvement.' Nick Sargis, who is the theater supervisor for the Fox Valley Park District, brought a slew of participants – more than 80 – to the parade. 'We have a great relationship with the city of Aurora and it's great that we get to walk and support our community,' he said of the parade. Diestelkamp and others spoke about the importance of the holiday for Americans. 'This is important to teach our kids about the Fourth of July and what it really means and it's a good sense of community being with all the Aurorans,' she said. Kathy Maltese of Aurora and her husband Tony said the parade is always on their Fourth of July to-do list. 'When it's the Fourth of July, it's the first box we have to check,' Kathy Maltese said. 'It's a tradition. It's something you've got to do.' 'This shows your patriotism and right now with all the things going on you have to show up now more than ever and this is one way of showing some kind of unity,' Tony Maltese added. 'You don't get a chance to do that all the time.'
Chicago Tribune
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Grand marshal named for Aurora Fourth of July Parade
Hugo Saltijeral of Aurora has been named grand marshal of Aurora's Fourth of July Parade, set for the city's downtown on Friday, July 4. According to a press release from the city, 'Hugo's leadership, generosity and commitment to our community' made him the choice to be grand marshal. Saltijeral currently serves as executive director of Valley Sheltered Workshop, which works to provide meaningful work and community engagement opportunities for adults with disabilities, according to a city of Aurora post on Facebook. He also serves on the Governor's Task Force for Employment and Economic Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, and has worked to help the homeless in Aurora, the post said. Saltijeral also is active at St. Joesph Parish in Aurora, and also has coached youth sports teams in the area, officials said. The city's Fourth of July Parade will step-off at the intersection of Benton Street and Broadway in downtown Aurora at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 4. The reviewing stand will be placed in front of the David L. Pierce Art and History Center at 20 E. Downer Place, city officials said. The Geneva Park District will offer its annual Concerts in the Park series beginning July 9 at River Park along the Fox River in Geneva. The free events will be held on Wednesdays beginning the second week in July, and all ages are invited to attend, organizers said in a press release. The concerts at River Park, 151 N. River Lane, will begin at 7 p.m. and run until 8:30 p.m. Food trucks will be on site, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase, according to the release. The 2025 Concerts in the Park lineup includes the FeelGood Party Band on July 9, Nashville Electric Company on July 16, Mr. Myers on July 23 and the Dennis O'Brien Band on July 30. In the event of inclement weather, the concerts will be canceled, according to the release. For more information about Concerts in the Park, go to or call 630-232-4542. The St. Charles Business Alliance has announced that Unwind Wednesday events will continue this summer with two additional dates. Taking place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, and Wednesday, Aug. 13, Unwind Wednesday invites individuals to enjoy live music and beverages on First Street Plaza in downtown St. Charles, according to a press release about the events. Patrons 21 years old and older who wish to have an alcoholic beverage during Unwind Wednesday must purchase their drink from one of the five nearby businesses on First Street Plaza. The five local businesses are Alter Brewing + Kitchen, Gia Mia, La Mesa Modern Mexican, La Za'Za' Trattoria and McNally's Irish Pub. To participate, patrons must stop by one of the listed venues and present valid identification to receive a wristband. Once a wristband is received, individuals will then be able to purchase a beverage that they can enjoy on First Street Plaza while listening to Connie Cipher and Michael McInerney on July 16 and Dennis O'Brien on Aug 13. 'The first Unwind Wednesday was a great success,' St. Charles Business Alliance Executive Director Jenna Sawicki said in the release. 'It was wonderful to see so many people enjoying the live music, the atmosphere and supporting our local businesses. We're looking forward to seeing this event continue to grow with these additional dates.' For more information about Unwind Wednesday, go to The Oswegoland Heritage Association will explore the era between the early 1950s and the early 1980s in the Oswego area during 'Conversations with Farm Kids' on Saturday, July 12, at the historic Little White School Museum, 72 Polk St. in Oswego. Admission is $5, through early registration or at the door, with proceeds benefiting the museum, according to a press release about the event. From the 1950s to the early 1980s, the Oswego area underwent a profound change, event organizers said, with a farming area rapidly changing into a suburb. Oswegoland Heritage Association board member Linda Heap Dean will lead the discussion at the event with a panel of a half-dozen former farm kids who will share stories of their roles on the farm, looking for companionship where the nearest neighbor might have been a mile away and balancing schoolwork with chores. Audience comments and questions will be entertained after the panel discussion. For more information on the program or to register in advance, call the Oswegoland Park District at 630-554-1010 or go to the museum registration page, Kim Eversole, a police officer for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, has been named a 2025 Illinois Juvenile Officers Association Officer of the Year. Eversole is a 14-year veteran of the department and is its community engagement coordinator. She is involved with several efforts to connect youth with nature and law enforcement, a news release from the forest preserve district said. Among her outreach events last year included four free 'Cops and Bobbers' fishing programs held at DuPage County forest preserves. Eversole also attended numerous summer camps and community programs, including National Night Out, which reinforces the idea that law enforcement officers are approachable, the release said. In December, she organized 'Shop With a Cop,' a program that gives kids a holiday shopping trip to pick out items from their wish list while spending meaningful time with an officer. Eversole is also a field training officer and responds to calls as a Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigations Team drone operator in addition to her regular patrol duties. She previously led the department's volunteer Trail Watch program.
