Although it rained and thundered most of Saturday, Mother Nature played nice during the morning to allow hundreds of Glen Ellyn youth a chance to parade down Main Street and congregate in Lake Ellyn Park to kick off opening day.

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I think it was great that they brought out the local band to play while the teams flowed in. The sound system sucked as per usual and no one other than those straight on to the stage heard anything. The anthem was 1/2 over before everyone stoppped talking. However, our new village trustee Jay took a little too long in talking IMO, many teams left before any of those prizes were awarded.

Here is a stone cold lock for next year...NO CANDY...the coach in front of was just about ready to physically stop kids from throwing candy. It really is a joke and a mess. I mean come on, the kids that want the candy are the ones that are walking in the parade.

Totally agree on the candy. I heard one spectator yell "not so hard" after he was pelted with a handful.

We told our team that they had to hand the stuff out, but it was sheer "candi-monium." Yeah.

Let's give everyone a break (especially the people who had to clean up afterward).

They canceled candy for a couple of years. What idiot reinstated it?

during the coaches meeting, the ge baseball fellas said they were "trying" candy again this year. They seemed like they were optimistically hoping that they wouldn't have the problems we encountered because they stressed the "handing out" part of the process.

That broke down as soon as we stepped off. I'm maybe in the minority, but seeing candy get whipped at folks was irksome.

The parade is a sweet idea and sure makes for good pictures, but I (apologies to the organizers) just don't see the point. It was ever long and once we got to the park, no one stuck around for the "program."

Parents kept asking how long it was going to go, what was happening, and should they stay. Me and the missus left shortly after the national anthem. Lots of jibba jabba that I couldn't make out.

The band, Flipside, did some pretty good covers of 311 diddies, but it just made me jealous that I can't play guitar as well.

I may be in the minority- but I LOVE the parade! I think it is great- an opportunity for very young kids to actually BE in a parade rather than sit on the sideline. I know my 5 yr old woke up every day for 2 weeks asking if it was the big day that she got to walk in the parade. Most of the other kids on the team were the same way.

I was also happy that they added the candy back in. Of course, being in front, the kids can't throw anyways, so all the candy ended up in front of the people watching.

The organizers gave out prizes to the older kids for who could pick up the most candy and wrappers left on the street on the way to the boat house. A street cleaner followed less than 5 minutes after the parade.

This was my 5th year attending the parade- it used to be sirens and candy, then they stopped both the sirens and candy and it was the quietest parade ever. Totally horrible. Finally, the candy is back and it actually sounds like a parade again. I say bring back the sirens and keep the candy!!

JAR - I was in the front of the parade with 5 yr olds as well. How did you keep yours from abandoning the banner and going after the candy themselves. My usually iron fisted management style went right out the window.

1st parade for me since marching as a kid myself, but the old way was to start at 1st pres church and head to crescent to Memorial field for the kick-off game of the season. That was cool - hot dogs, a game (usually older players) and the chance to really hang out with other teams.

Nothing against the organizers, but the Lake part was very ineffectual. We were towards the front and still couldn't understand a word. That coupled with a tight timeframe for an 11:00 AM game schedule forced the team to leave before most stuff started. Band was great.

Candy throwing in any parade is stupid. IMO

Funny stuff about the banner holding! We actually had our kids take turns holding the banner. They were all good and loved it. Of course next year I might be singing a different tune.

I do agree abt the lake event. It was a long time to keep the team together/entertained while the rest showed up, and I could not understand a single thing that was said. I tried to stick it out as long as possible as our game wasn't until 5pm- but could not control the calls from the kids to "go home" and "leave". Oh well.

I still remember the first year we watched the parade, my oldest was just a baby in a stroller. I was so concerned for her safety from the candy that I turned the stroller around until the younger kids went by. Candy throwing rocks.