IL-Sycamore pumpkinfest-Out Numbered But Victorous-10/28/07

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IL-Sycamore pumpkinfest-Out Numbered But Victorous-10/28/07

Post by SL3193 »

Obi-Wan Kenobi- Kevin Skoglund
Stormtrooper- John Fitzsimmons
Darth Vader- Mike Olson

What an event and a testing of the waters for possible future involvement... The Pumpkinfest parade was a huge success for the city Sycamore and we were able to bask in its vast number of attendees. Over 100,000 spectators lined the residential and commercial streets of Sycamore to get a simple glimpse of the various floats and displays as they ushered past early Sunday afternoon. Many of the participants in the parade were sad little plugs for their respective organizations so it was no big astonishment that a few Star Wars characters that seemed to have climbed off the silver screen were such a huge hit. We were limited in number but the obvious crowd favorite. Kids, adults, and everybody in between, were genuinely ecstatic. The sheriff himself wanted pictures with us. Next year could prove to be spectacular as well. With a few more participants, we could own this parade. Early in the staging area, we were approached by the Sci-fi club for Sycamore High School. They wondered if we wanted to march with them but we had our alloted 10 feet of space so we respectfully declined, but possibly we could organize something with them next year. Just a thought. Thank you John and Kevin for making this event so successful. It takes big men, given only 10 feet of asphalt, to concur 100,000. I will post pictures when I get them.. Thanks
Mike Olson SL3193

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Post by cplBear »

The one thing i realized the most from doing this parade . Is that we had JUST as much fun with 3 troops present , as if we had had 33 ! Hey......Obi Wan / Vader and a Stormtrooper ARE THE MOST ICONIC Star Wars characters anyway right ? :lol:
EVERYONE knew who we were . And the sight of thousands of folks actually standing up and clapping for us , put the icing on the cake !
I dare say one would be HARD pressed to find a LARGER / MORE ENTHUSIASTIC crowd of Parade watchers ANYWHERE ! 100 THOUSAND was NO Lie at all . These folks were lined 20 deep in spots ! WOW ! :shock:
And the BEST part.......WE ROCKED EM !!!
Next year...............the REAL invasion begins !
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Post by Fitz6442 »

Hopefully, we'll have more participants next year, since we won't have MSI to compete against.

Now let's start making plans for next year!

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Post by cplBear »

Fitz6442 wrote:Hopefully, we'll have more participants next year, since we won't have MSI to compete against.

Now let's start making plans for next year!

YOU CAN COUNT ME IN !
Anyone have any contacts up there that might be able to get us a truck and trailer for a float ? I think we STILL should have folks walking tho . 8)
Makes it a lot more personal.
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Post by Fitz6442 »

Even if I could get a truck and trailer, I wouldn't have any place to keep it before the parade. I live in a four-plex with limited parking.

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Post by cplBear »

Fitz6442 wrote:Even if I could get a truck and trailer, I wouldn't have any place to keep it before the parade. I live in a four-plex with limited parking.


Well.....we do have a lot of time to plan this one . :lol:

But maybe Mike can start getting the word out since he is also close to this area . And maybe we can get some business or organization to throw in with us next year . They provide the truck / trailer.....and we provide the bodies ! :D
That would be the easiest route . But we would have to get that word out pretty early .



OH......and it was BEAUTIFUL weather . High 50's and SUNNY !
PERFECT parade weather !!!!! PERFECT !
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Post by Fitz6442 »

Mike, you really need to get those pictures from your mother and post them. So far, the three of us are the only ones who have replied to this thread. I'd really like everyone else to see what they missed. :wink:

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Post by cplBear »

Fitz6442 wrote:Mike, you really need to get those pictures from your mother and post them. So far, the three of us are the only ones who have replied to this thread. I'd really like everyone else to see what they missed. :wink:
Yes i agree.......MIKE...............Get them pics posted Mr . Vader . 8)
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Post by cplBear »

Mike ? .......We........Need........Pics.................Now........git.............busy.....

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Post by Fitz6442 »

Image

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Post by cplBear »

[Whistles loudly ] .....................................

MIKE !!!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Post by cplBear »

Fitz6442 wrote:Not a single picture of us. :cry:

http://www.cityofsycamore.com/PumpkinFest2007Photos.htm

Mike said he was going to get HIS up "VERY SOON " !

:cry:


But this one aerial shot pretty much shows JUST how many folks were at this Parade ! And the Pic just shows ONE SMALL block's worth . This was dupicated ALL along the Parade Route .

Image :shock:
Last edited by cplBear on Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Post by Fitz6442 »

Fitz6442 wrote:Not a single picture of us. :cry:

http://www.cityofsycamore.com/PumpkinFest2007Photos.htm
But look at the size of that crowd!!

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Post by cplBear »

Fitz6442 wrote:
Fitz6442 wrote:Not a single picture of us. :cry:

http://www.cityofsycamore.com/PumpkinFest2007Photos.htm
But look at the size of that crowd!!

That was the LARGEST parade crowd i have seen anywhere . I am 100% in on doing that one again next fall . BIGGER and BETTER !!!! 8)
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Post by SL3193 »

Here are a few images.... I'm sorry it took so long for me to get them up. Problems and situations beyond my control
Image
Here's a picture just showing the size of the crowd..

IMG]http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff19 ... 0_0008.jpg[/IMG]
Here we are, moving down the street trying to fill the space we were given...
Image
Here we are as we pased by where my ma and pa were with the camera..
The images of us are nothing new but the crowd size is evident in the images...

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Post by cplBear »

:lol: :lol: :lol: Um Mike ?

I didn't know we were in that Band bro ??? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

But seriously .........Was that the best pics yer Parents got of us ? I thought they took some of us B4 we started ????



Image
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Post by SL3193 »

The pics that they were taken before we got going were on a different camera that I don't have access to at the moment... I was somewhat disappointed as well especially with all the hassel that it took me to get the images we had up.... All I can say is next time.. but for this time... sorry :oops:

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Post by cplBear »

SL3193 wrote:The pics that they were taken before we got going were on a different camera that I don't have access to at the moment... I was somewhat disappointed as well especially with all the hassel that it took me to get the images we had up.... All I can say is next time.. but for this time... sorry :oops:

It was Original Trilogy Day for us at Sycamore . Looked nice !


Okay on the pics Mike..............But now you gotta do a Pencil Sketch of the 3 of us as penance. :P



NOW....................Let's get this thang on the menu for fall 2008 !
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Post by Fitz6442 »

THE SYCAMORE PUMPKINFEST RECON TEAM

NO FLOAT! ........... NO BANNER! ........... Just three guys walking down the street. :lol:

Image

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