Mokena Has Largest 4th Of July Parade In South Suburbs

MOKENA, IL - Eighty-one entries will make up the 2018 4th of July Parade in Mokena, the largest such event in the south suburbs. Scroll to the bottom of this article for the full list of entries in the parade.

Several businesses, organizations, school groups and sports teams will make up the parade, which will begin at 10 a.m. and is expected to last for about two hours.

This year's parade theme is "200 Years of Amazing Things in Illinois," in honor of the Illinois Bicentennial. Sponsored by the Mokena Chamber of Commerce, the parade starts at the intersection of Wolf and LaPorte roads and continues north to Granite Drive.

"It's our most fun summer tradition in Mokena," said Cindy Gamboa of Mokena-based Interior Insight. "It is a big way for our community to get together, celebrate and really enjoy the holiday."

Gamboa is in her 21st year as the chair of the Mokena 4th of July Parade Committee.

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As always, the parade entries will be judged on creativeness and other virtues. Judges this year will be Kelly Quigley of Aurelio's Pizza, Terri Erickson of Grace Fellowship Church and Emily Vaccaro, wife of Mokena Police Chief Steve Vaccaro.

The Mendoza family will serve as the Parade Grand Marshals. They'll make it to Mokena just in time after running the yearly morning 5K in nearby Tinley Park.

List Of Entries

• St. Johns UCC
• 89.7 Shine FM Radio
• American Legion Riders Chapter 615 Tinley Park IL
• Anthony's on Front Bar and Grill
• Berkots
• Bettenhausen Automotive
• Boy Scout Troop #40
• Bulldog Carpet Cleaning
• Connections Studio, Inc.
• Crowhurst Family
• CrossFit Mokena
• Curtain Call Theater
• Dave and Busters
• ELFCO
• Elite Ambulance
• Family Martial Arts
• FNBC Bank and Trust
• Frankfort Township and Highway Department
• GiGi's Playhouse
• Gym-Kinetics Gymnastic School
• Heritage Baptist Church
• Homewood Disposal
• Jim Melka Garden Center
• John Boksa
• Joliet Slammers
• Jung's Champion Taekwondo
• Knights of Columbus
• Lincolnway Community Bank
• Lincoln-Way Community H.S. District 210
• Lincoln-Way Democratic Organization
• LincolnWay Lacrosse Club
• LWSRA
• Margo McDermed, State Representative
• Midwest Animal Hospital
• Minuteman Press of Frankfort
• Mokena Burro's
• Mokena Community Park District
• Mokena Community Public Library
• Mokena Fire Protection District
• Mokena Jr. High Marching Meteors
• Mokena Lions Club
• Mokena Miracles
• NAWS Humane Society of Illinois
• Need a Hand Handyman Services
• Nighthawk Veterinary Clinic
• Nothing Bundt Cakes
• Odyssey Fun World / Odyssey Fun Farm
• Old Plank Trail Community Bank
• Re-Elect Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley
• Rich Chapello
• Same Day Tee's
• School of Rock
• Second Place Church
• Senator Michael E. Hastings
• Sheepdog Firearms & Academy
• Southland Steam Carpet Cleaning
• Southwest Suburban Activists
• Spenga
• St. Mary Catholic School
• Subway (Subs Mokena dba Subway)
• The Veterans Garage
• Three Point Healthcare
• Tresses Salon
• Whitmore Ace Hardware
• Will Cook Little League
• William Martin VFW Post 725
• Currie Motors Ford of Frankfort
• Frankfort Township Republican Organization
• Emagine Theater
• Our Fallen Hero 5K in Memory of PFC Aaron Toppen
• Crosstown Exotics:Traveling Reptile and Bug Show
• Philllips Chevrolet
• Ozinga
• Nss- Exteriors, Inc.
• Mokena Police Department
• Pipefitters Local Union 597 Training Fund
• Granite Mountain
• Immanuel Lutheran Church
• Lincoln-Way Theatre Guild
• Derek Rice
• Home Helpers
• The Andersen Team

Photo provided