IL-Sycamore pumpkinfest-Out Numbered But Victorous-10/28/07
Moderator: Garrison Officers
- SL3193
- Inactive Member
- Posts: 544
- 4poziom.waw.pl
- Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:28 pm
- 501st Legion ID: 3193
- Location: Mendota, Illinois
IL-Sycamore pumpkinfest-Out Numbered But Victorous-10/28/07
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
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
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 ?
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 !
And the BEST part.......WE ROCKED EM !!!
Next year...............the REAL invasion begins !
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 !
And the BEST part.......WE ROCKED EM !!!
Next year...............the REAL invasion begins !
Mud hole! My home this is - Yoda
IN6951 Imperial Navy Trooper .
IN6951 Imperial Navy Trooper .
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 .
Makes it a lot more personal.
Mud hole! My home this is - Yoda
IN6951 Imperial Navy Trooper .
IN6951 Imperial Navy Trooper .
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 .
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 !
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 !
Mud hole! My home this is - Yoda
IN6951 Imperial Navy Trooper .
IN6951 Imperial Navy Trooper .
Yes i agree.......MIKE...............Get them pics posted Mr . Vader .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.
Mud hole! My home this is - Yoda
IN6951 Imperial Navy Trooper .
IN6951 Imperial Navy Trooper .
Mike said he was going to get HIS up "VERY SOON " !
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 .
Last edited by cplBear on Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Mud hole! My home this is - Yoda
IN6951 Imperial Navy Trooper .
IN6951 Imperial Navy Trooper .
- SL3193
- Inactive Member
- Posts: 544
- Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:28 pm
- 501st Legion ID: 3193
- Location: Mendota, Illinois
Here are a few images.... I'm sorry it took so long for me to get them up. Problems and situations beyond my control
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...
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...
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...
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...
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
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.
NOW....................Let's get this thang on the menu for fall 2008 !
Mud hole! My home this is - Yoda
IN6951 Imperial Navy Trooper .
IN6951 Imperial Navy Trooper .