Fewer than 20,000 people comprised Naperville’s population in 1966, when Rick Motta suggested it was picnic time.
The idea – inspired generally by Motta’s love for all things Kim Novak, and specifically by her 1955 film “Picnic” – made sense in a business community that had been looking for a way to thank its loyal patrons.
Local planners, most of them merchants, were toying with the idea of a sports event, Motta said. He, on the other hand, was drawn to the story line in the Novak film, about a Labor Day celebration set askew by the arrival of a handsome stranger in a small Kansas town.
“I said, ‘Well, why don’t we have a big parade and some kind of picnic down by the beach grounds?'” said Motta, 84, a veteran of community theater.
For his part, Motta assembled a float that featured the likeness of a clown’s head, adorned with red, white and blue balloons – and his four kids.
“Everybody said it was the best parade they’d ever had here,” he said, adding that he didn’t include any politicians in the lineup. “That’s probably why.”
And that was the first Last Fling. The iconic end-of-summer commemoration will make its 50th appearance in downtown Naperville Sept. 4-7.
Hosted by the Naperville Jaycees, the celebration still runs on the support of the business community, with a sponsor list numbering nearly 90 local businesses. Other time-tested elements also remain in the plans, despite the event having grown into something much larger than its former self.
Once again, the annual parade on the festival’s final day, Labor Day, will be largely without politicians, mostly a function of the area being generally between campaign cycles. But it will have a little more oomph than usual.
“We’re asking people to put floats together, and entries to help us celebrate,” said Paul DeKruiff, parade chairman and a former Last Fling executive director.
The procession, numbering a full complement of about 100 entries, will include more candy and other giveaways than it has in past years, he said. All of the high schools in Naperville School Districts 203, Indian Prairie School District 204 as well as Benet Academy will have marching bands in the lineup.
“We’re looking forward to it. There’s a real mix of local businesses,” DeKruiff said.
Music has always had a place at Last Fling, although local sounds took center stage in the early days. Motta, who chaired the event for its first seven years, said the weekend always kicked off with a battle of the bands.
“We’d get some pretty good ones,” he said. “Sometimes we’d get some pretty bad ones.”
Danielle Tufano, who is overseeing public relations and marketing for this year’s event, said she thinks the 50th Fling is a big deal.
“There’s going to be fun things planned for the entire weekend,” said Tufano.
Musical headliners during the weekend include the bands Daughtry and Chevelle. Nostalgia will take the stage Monday, with tribute bands booked that include Axis, which features Jimi Hendrix hits; Tumbling Dice, channeling the Rolling Stones; and Pink Floyd cover band The Flesh.
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A wide variety of special events are in the plans as well, from annual favorites like bed races, an apple pie-eating contest, a diaper derby and rib cooking competition to new attractions, including the Rooster 5K race, set to follow on the heels of the ever-popular Fling Mile on Labor Day.
“And people who want to be courageous can run both races. That’s called the Fling Challenge,” Tufano said.
Toma Dobrosavljevic, a past winner of the weight-loss competition central to the NBC show “The Biggest Loser,” is scheduled to be a “celebrity runner” in the Rooster 5K and talk about how he changed his habits to shed 171 pounds during the party that will follow the running events.
A full selection of carnival rides also are in the plans, along with Family Fun Land, again setting up on the grounds at Naper Settlement.
“A lot of favorites from before have returned,” Tufano said, rattling off the fictional princess appearances and inflatable bounce houses among the perennially popular attractions.
Officials say they plan for any contingencies that arise during such a massive event but weather is always out of planners’ hands. Nevertheless they’re optimistic the turnout will be robust over the four days.
“We’re estimating a couple hundred thousand people,” Tufano said.
Event veteran DeKruiff also is hopeful that the Last Fling’s half-century mark will be one for the books.
“I’m super excited about the 50th,” he said. “Like most Jaycee things, we don’t toot our horns too loudly… We just kind of give back and do things in the community.”
Twitter @scarlman