Keepataw Days Parade to 'Celebrate Lemont'

The 63rd annual Keepataw Days Parade will celebrate all things Lemont, festival organizers announced.

The theme of this year's Labor Day parade, "Celebrate Lemont," pays homage to the village's history and culture.

Organizers are currently seeking entries for the parade, which will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3 in downtown Lemont. Businesses, organizations and sports teams interested in participating should contact Annette Jelinek at keepatawdays@yahoo.com.

Last month, Keepataw Days organizers presented plans for this year's festival to Mayor Brian Reaves and village trustees.

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"The date is really the only thing changing. Everything else is staying the same," said Mike Carey, president of the Keepataw Days Festival Committee. "We're trying to keep it simple."

The Keepataw Days Festival Committee is a nonprofit organization that formed in December 2009 after the festival's longtime sponsor, the Lemont Jaycees, disbanded. The group has put on the event the past two years with the help of donations and local sponsorships.

This year, the budget is tighter than ever.

"If we don't have three successful nights, we're going to have trouble pulling this off," Carey said.

The organization will need the support of Lemont residents in order to keep the festival going in the future, Carey said.

"We're going to have to regroup after this event. If we don't have three successful nights, we'll have to consider whether we're going to do it again next year," he said.

The Keepataw Days Festival will be held in downtown Lemont in the , on Canal Street and Bossert Drive. The layout of the carnival rides, games, beer garden and main stage will remain the same.

The festival will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight on Friday, Aug. 31; from noon to midnight on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 1-2; and from noon to 10 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 3.

Confirmed vendors include Grill Sergeant, , Zaccarelli's Pizza and the Tidal Crave.

The entertainment lineup is not yet available.

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