Floats are a big draw for parade crowds and compete to win awards. [Staff photo]

It’s a tradition in Kewanee that goes back to 1954.

That was the year of Kewanee’s centennial, and one of the many events that took place in that celebration was a parade. A massive parade consisted of many entries and thousands of people lining the streets to see it.

The event was such a hit that a Labor Day parade became a part of Hog Days, the annual Labor Day weekend celebration that also grew out of the pork barbecue that was a centennial highlight.

Eventually the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce’s Ambassadors Club took over the task of running the parade. They make sure every parade entry is in its correct spot before the parade steps off on East Third Street near Kewanee High School.

The parade proceeds down to Second Street and all the way to Main Street, where it heads south, turns west on Central Boulevard and ends up at Irving School. That distance is “just at a mile,” said Mark Mikenas, the chamber’s executive director.

For this year’s parade, which begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, “We’re all set,” Mikenas said.

As of Tuesday, he said, there were about a dozen parade entries. There will be many more; the parade usually has 95 to 105 units.

There are more actual vehicles and walkers than that; some of the entries include multiple vehicles. For example, one queen contest might have half a dozen convertibles with queens of all ages waving to the crowds.

And there are always huge crowds. Police have estimated that as many as 10,000 people find a spot along the parade route to watch the fun.

Marching bands are always a parade favorite, but Mikenas said he’s having difficulty finding the bands. Many high school bands, he said, are switching from marching in parades to taking part in field competitions.

Last year, the US Marine Corps Marching Band came to town over the Labor Day weekend. [Staff photo]

One of the highlights of previous parades, the Chillicothe IVC High School marching band, won’t be in this year’s parade for that reason. However, Neponset native Luke Pratt will bring his Elmwood High School band to the parade.

People can submit parade entries through the chamber’s website at http://kewanee-il.com/parade.php, or they can stop by the chamber office on East Second Street and pick up a parade application.

The deadline to enter is Aug. 19.