History of Parade

In 2002, when the Village Preservation Association of Plainfield was still relatively new, the families who comprised the organization after buying some of the vintage homes in the downtown area - drawn by the community’s historic charm, its neighborhood school, its appealing mom-and-pop retail center - came together to celebrate spring. It was a delightful project: moms and dads, kids and friends all dove eagerly into the fun task of making floats and decorating bikes - and then stepped off with joy one sunny Sunday afternoon in March. They circled the three blocks that defined much of their neighborhood - and because it was over much too fast, did it again. Much merriment followed, and all agreed it was an event that merited repeating.

Over the following few years, the route migrated across Division Street - for a time straddling both sides of the highway - and finally settled into a circuit that encompasses much of the distinct and historically rich retail and residential area west of Division. Bagpipers and Irish dancers soon joined the merry procession, along with many of the civic, youth and business organizations that make up the community’s uniquely inviting nature, and make Plainfield such a great place to live and raise a family.

The parade now is the centerpiece of an annual spring celebration that offers a variety of activities and events, drawing several thousand people to the Village core every March.