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The annual Niles 4th of July parade and festival at Grennan Heights park was a success.
The parade kicked off at Notre Dame HS parking lot, as follows from the Niles Village Website:
Parade Route:
8:45 AM Step-Off Notre Dame Parking Lot
Ozark to Main - Main to Harlem -Harlem to Monroe -Monroe to Oketo
Ends at Grennan Heights Park.
Dozens of different participants were in the parade along with local businesses and municipal employees & vehicles.
A Civil War group was present and shot off their muskets with blanks.
Gymnastic and music groups were brought in from other areas to perform and of course the group of Corvettes driving were present, representing the American 2-door 2-seater sports car.
Niles police were armed with rifles and a drone to help protect in case of any kind of active shooter situation like what happened at last years' July 4th parade in Highland Park.
One particularly amusing incident was when a Village employee, instead of walking the parade route, was riding in a golf cart. The cart died and he was pushed by a child and another man, rather than get out and walk the remaining 2 blocks of the route.
Candy was thrown from carts and parade walkers to the curb and grassy areas as well.
The festival and parade ended with the festival at Grennan Heights park, complete with live music, horses to ride, inflatable rides and a brief supply of free hot dogs and drinks. Alcohol was also available for purchase, only allowed to be had in the tennis court area.
