Buffalo Grove Days Parade Draws Thousands

If one thing was made clear at the Buffalo Grove Days parade, it's that you're never too old for candy.

Four-year-old Natalie Karamitis was among hundreds of children who lined Bernard Drive Sunday, holding a plastic bag to contain the sweets about to be thrown her way. Beside her sat Gabrielle Markocki, 8, who was also eager for the parade to begin.

"It's fun," said Gabrielle, of the annual spectacle that travels right through her neighborhood. "You get to see all the fun stuff. And get candy."

Children weren't the only ones with a sweet tooth. Rick Lahrman and his brothers-in-law, Bill Feld and Tim Toomey, stood on the sidewalk and begged for treats to be thrown their way.

"I wanted Dots," admitted a disappointed Lahrman.

But was more than the candy that attracted thousands of spectators to Bernard Drive, where residents began placing folding chairs the day before, to reserve their place by the curb.

"I've been coming to this parade for 40 years," said Lahrman, who lives in Algonquin. "I grew up right down the street. It's a family tradition. I keep coming back year after year."

His father-in-law, Dominic Saviano Jr., who is a retired Buffalo Grove deputy fire marshal, has lived in the neighborhood for 51 years. Every year, his grown children return home with their families to watch the parade.

"You can't miss it," Saviano said.

This year's parade featured more than 90 entries, which included high school bands, local businesses, Scout troops, and elected officials, ranging from village trustees to Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

Marie Lutz, her son Dirk, and his 2-year-old daughter, Christine, stood along the route, keeping their eyes peeled for Dirk's son, Carl, who was marching with his tae kwon do class. After the parade, they planned to visit Buffalo Grove Days, where carnival rides awaited.

"It's a beautiful day and a time to be with the family," Marie Lutz said.