Dundee’s Allegiance Color Guard had guns and flags.
As an intermission between Republican politicians, the Allegiance Color Guard from Dundee came marching by.
There was also a Wells Fargo stage coach.
Horses pulling a stage coach also added interest.
Ready for any horse droppings.
A necessary component of any parade with horses is a place to put any horse apples.
The Crystal Lake Park District had an entry with children.
The Crystal Lake Park District showcased kids from its summer day camp.
More horses came next.
Shriners rode horses in the parade.
Shriners were riding them.
McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi followed.
Lou Bianchi
He had his usual whistle.
Huntley School District Heineman-Marlow summer band.
A band from Heineman-Marlow Schools in Huntley provided periodic music.
And still more horses.
These horse are from the Midwest Equestrian Drill Team.
These from the Midwest Renegades Equestrian Drill Team.
And along came McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz.
Donna Kurtz on her Kurtzmobile.
She’s up for re-election, but she and running mate Jim Heisler have no opponent.
PFLAG had an entry in the Crystal Lake Independence Day Parade.
The next political entry was PFLAG, Parents and Family of Lesbians and Gays, McHenry/McHenry County Chapter.
The Catholic Parents of Gays and Lesbian Kids had two signs, one in English, one in Spanish.
Following was a group named Catholic Parents of Gay and Lesbian Kids.
A boy led the parade in a vehicle he was pedaling. Another carried a “Don’t Tread on Me” rattlesnake flag.
The Bill Prim for Sheriff entry was strung out with a pedaled vehicle leading the way.
The float used last year for Bill Prim was right behind.
Besides the float, there was an old, restored fire engine.
An addition to the Bill Prim for Sheriff parade entry this year i a bright red fire engine.
People rode on the back.
One person was riding backwards in the back of Bill Prim’s red fire truck.
Behind the truck Bill Prim was walking with Mickey Schuch.
Bill Prim waves at the crowd. Mickey Schuch walks beside him as Rob Hanlon looks at the cameraman.
Prim greeted members of the crowd.
Bill Prim greeted people on the parade route.
Right behind Bill Prim was my church’s float.
The First United Methodist Church float marks the 175th anniversary of its founding and 50 years of offering a preschool program.
The First United Methodist Church is the oldest church in Crystal Lake.
While the city is celebrating its 100th Birthday, First Church is marking its 175th Anniversary.
It’s Christian preschool is fifty years old.
The Sinful Saints Dixieland band.
Another fire engine, Tom McDermott’s, brought music from the Sinful Saints.
I guess the American Heritage Girls are as much a political statement as the PFLAG entry.
Two members carry the American Heritage Girls banner.
As I understand its history, it was formed in 1995 in reaction to the Girl Scouts move to the left. According to Wikipedia, it is a Christian alternative to the Girl Scouts formed after that organization allowed the substitution of another word for “God” in Girl Scout promise and supposedly banned prayer at meetings.
More music followed.
The Dundee Scottish Pipe Band.
Another organization to which I belong was behind the bagpipes–the Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club.
Incoming President Mike Split was dressed in a Santa suit to promote the Santa Run, which is held the first Saturday of December starting at the Raue Theater in Downtown Crystal Lake.
The entry promoted the this year’s December 7th 5K Santa Run.
Bicycling zombies promotedChicago=s Lurie Children’s Hospital’s sleep evaluations for children.
The parade ended with bicycling zombies.
This little zombie girl was going after the crowd with a bubble gun.
I kid you not.
No Democratic Party or Independent candidates participated in Crystal Lake’s 4th of July Parade.
There was more to the parade, but it was a way, way back of the zombies.
= = = = =
Part 1 is here.
Oh Cal, thank you for all those pictures !!!!!!
Every entry was wonderful and expressed the individual entries unity and pride.
Everyone was visibly happy and having fun. True spirit, Great day,and great fun.