Batavia VFW 2012 Loyalty Day Parade Set For May 6

It's that time of year again!

The 38th annual Batavia VFW Loyalty Day Parade is on Sunday, May 6.

This year's theme is "The VFW Tree of Life," dedicated to the various branches of the military that provide an umbrella of protection to all residents.

The parade kicks off at 1:30 p.m. and will begin at Raddant Road and Wilson Street. It will make its way west on Wilson and then south on River Street (Route 25) becoming coming to a close at the , 645 S. River St. A parade route map is attached on this page.

Various Batavia groups, businesses and organizations will be part of the parade. Be sure to arrive early and snag a good spot!

After the parade, there will be food, activities and entertainment on the post grounds for the entire family.

Wanna Be A Part of It?

Applications to join the Batavia Loyalty Day Parade were due Sunday, April 22. If for some reason you haven't turned in your application yet, do so ASAP! A copy of the application can be found here. Call 630-879-9630 and leave a message for the parade committee if you have any questions.

The Batavia VFW also seeks soldiers who have served, or are currently serving, during Operation Iraq/Enduring Freedom to be on the parade float.

These soldiers are encouraged to contact VFW Post 1197 at 630-879-9630 to reserve a seat on the official parade float.

Parade Street Closures

On the day of the parade (May 6), Wilson Street will be closed starting on the east side at Woodland Hills Road all the way downtown across the bridge to Island Avenue. The closure will last from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. May 6, or until the parade is complete.

Route 25 commuters will be sent to Route 31 during the parade. Please use the either the Route 56 or Fabyan Parkway bridges as detours during these hours. Adjust your travel times accordingly.

All motorists should be prepared to encounter increased pedestrian traffic in the downtown area during the hours of 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., according to the . Call the department at 630-454-2500 if you have any questions about the closures.

Please Support the Parade

The annual Loyalty Day Parade is one of the largest parades in Northern Illinois. The parade depends on donations from, and the support of, area businesses and volunteers.

Donations help the Men’s and Ladies Auxiliaries provide food for parade participants and service personnel, along with other parade expenses.

The community is encouraged to support this event by sending donations to:

Batavia VFW Post 1197

ATTN: Loyalty Day Parade Treasurer

P.O. Box 82

Batavia, IL 60510

To see photos from the 2011 Batavia VFW Loyalty Parade, click and .