Weekend Spotlight: Memorial Day Edition

This "Weekend Spotlight" is going to focus on parades and events tied to Memorial Day. Make sure to check the Go West Calendar for other events this weekend. And since the forecast is calling for hot, hot, hot weather, check out our list of pools and splash pads that will open for the season tomorrow. 

Photo by davidyuweb on Flickr.For the following list, I only included towns that have parades. If your family is interested in attending a memorial service or a flag-raising ceremony, the Beacon-News had a wonderful, comprehensive article of Memorial Day events going on all over the western suburbs, including details on a few parades I could not independently confirm and did not include here.

AURORA: The city of Aurora hosts an annual Memorial Day ceremony and parade. The pre-parade ceremony, called "Expressions of Remembrance," will take place at 11:15 a.m. at the reviewing stand outside the Paramount Theatre at 23 E. Galena Blvd. It will feature an honor guard, the Pledge of Allegiance, a chorus and band. The parade steps off at noon from from River and Benton streets, heads east to Broadway Avenue, turns north to Galena Boulevard and concludes west at Hoyt Place. The city says the best viewing area for residents will be the North Island Center at 8 E. Galena Blvd. 

ST. CHARLES: The parade in St. Charles steps off at 10 a.m. at 6th Street and Main Street and continues to Riverside Avenue. A special memorial ceremony at the Freedom Shrine will immediately follow the parade. It will take place along the river, west of the St. Charles Police Department, 211 N. Riverside Ave. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held inside the St. Charles Fire Station 1, at 112 N. Riverside Ave.

ELMHURST: The Memorial Day Parade in Elmhurst steps off at 9:30 a.m. at York and Third streets and proceeds to Wilder Park. Here's detailed info on the parade route.

GENEVA: The American Legion sponsors Memorial Day events in Geneva, including a parade that steps off at 10 a.m. near the Geneva Metra Station and then proceeds north to the West Side Cemetery, near Wheeler Park, at Second and Stevens streets.

NAPERVILLE: The VFW and American Legion host the Naperville Memorial Day Parade, which will will step off at 10:30 a.m. at Jackson and West Street. It will proceed east to Washington, north to Benton and then east to the Saints Peter & Paul Church parking lot.

ELBURN: The annual Memorial Day Parade is hosted by American Legion Post 630 and starts at 9 a.m. at Lions Park and ends at Blackberry Township Cemetery. There is a brief service at the cemetery and then participants return to Lions Park for food and social events.