The faces of children and adults broke into smiles for a variety of reasons as they watched 90 entrants travel the 1.2-mile route of the American Independence Parade in Waukegan offering treats, entertainment and more. Smiles of youngsters like Amelia and Piper Garrett grew brighter as they snatched the different favors parade participants handed out, from candy and bubblegum to stickers and toys.
“I liked the balls and the sports toys,” Piper said, referring to golf balls, baseballs, basketballs and soccer balls being thrown by Waukegan Park District officials from a well-stocked trailer being pulled by a truck. Piper Garrett, left, and Amelia Garrett look at their bag of prizes at the American Independence Parade. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun) Anton Mathews, the president of the Park District Board of Commissioners said since the parade was canceled a year ago because of a heavy rainstorm, there was an abundance of balls to give out this year.
“We had a lot left over, and we bought more this year,” Mathews said. “This is great for the kids.” Approximately 5,000 people lined Sheridan Road, from Franklin Street north to Bowen Park, Sunday in Waukegan for the city’s longstanding American Independence Parade held annually the Sunday before the Fourth of July.
While some entrants ran out of candy and used other mementos to give to members of the crowd, Waukegan Ald. Edith Newsome, 5th Ward, had no such problem. As she and 30 volunteers approached the r.
