July 4th MINI Parade

WRAPUP:  A half dozen MINIs braved the drizzly morning to participate in the parade.  We were the second to last in the lineup (thankfully ahead of the horses), and were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd with lots of children.  A fun time was had by all!!

Photos by: Steve | Dan |

The Chicago MINI Motoring Club will be participating in the Oak Lawn July 4th parade.

UPDATE 06/30/2009:  Our staging area will be spot 69B which is at the corner of 51st street and 94th street.   Additional Parade information has been  added to the bottom of this post.   Anyone who has responded to this post or our Meetup site will be mailed a PDF of the staging area.  We will be staging near some horses, so please be considerate and not start your MINIs till we are ready to begin the parade.

NOTE: This event will be televised on a local cable station so make sure your MINI is looking good.

WHAT: Parade

WHERE: 51st and 95th street, Oak Lawn(meet in the Metra parking lot)

View Larger Map

WHEN: July 4th be at the parking lot before 9am Parade starts at 10am.  Rain date is Sunday July 5th.

WHY: Just for fun, and to show off your MINI

Clean and decorate your MINI.  Participants are strongly encouraged to bring candy to toss to spectators along the route.

Please add a comment letting us know you are attending so we can plan for the correct amount of space.

PARADE KICK OFF IS AT 10:00 A.M. ON SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009Parade participants will need to be at 51st Avenue and 95th Street by 9:00 AM on Saturday, July 4. The parade will kick off at 10:00 AM sharp. The parade route will begin westbound on the center line of 95th Street and proceed to 55th Ct. We strongly encourage parade participants to bring candy to toss to spectators along the route but ask that you please be careful when tossing candy – please try to get it toward the curb for safety reasons. 95th Street will be closed (both sides) during our event.If you have any questions or require additional information before the day of the parade please contact Deanne at (708) 499-7837. On the day of the parade there will be a check in table on the corner of 95th Street and 51st Avenue.

Important Information:

Due to street closures and set up, if you have a vehicle in the parade and your space number is between 1-45 you should enter at 94th and 51st Avenue. If your space number is between 46-91 you should enter at Southwest Highway and 51st Avenue.   CMMC staging space is 69B.  If your vehicle is not in the parade, you may drop off marchers at the 51st Avenue checkpoint and then take 94th Street to Sproat Avenue and proceed south to the Metra lot OR park in the Metra lot and walk one half block (west) to 51st Avenue with your group.

Spaces will be marked but if you have questions, feel free to stop at our check in/info table at the corner of 95th & 51st Avenue

Please follow the instructions given by the parade coordinator and volunteers. Remember to bring water and wear sunscreen. There will be a port-a-john on site.

Please be considerate of other parade participants and to the residents and businesses along the parade route.   The village is NOT responsible for articles/items left unattended.    A shuttle bus will be available at the end of the parade route at St. Gerald’s Parking Lot to take marchers back to the Village Hall and 51st Street. When the parade ends at 55th Ct. and after you make a right turn on 55th Ct. – PLEASE – PLEASE keep walking to the end of the block and either go right or straight to St. Gerald’s Parking lot. Parking Suggestion: There is plenty of parking behind The Village Hall or St. Gerald’s Church Parking Lot-West Side Only off Central Avenue is a great place to park your car and then walk over to the Parade Line-Up site on 51st St. therefore, when the parade ends at 55th Ct. – you can then walk to the end of the block where your car is parked.