Several thousand people were expected to attend Gurnee Days over the weekend, the highlight of which was a parade on Saturday on Old Grand Avenue, along Viking Park.
The first Gurnee Days were held in 1973. This year, there were nearly 60 parade entries or units.
“The annual Gurnee Days parade is one of the best examples of what makes our community so special,” Gurnee Park District Executive Director Mike Szpylman said.
“Seeing our neighbors, local businesses, community organizations and families come together to celebrate this event, support one another, and showcase our community spirit, is both humbling and inspiring,” he said. “It is an honor to be a part of this longstanding community tradition and one that we all look forward to year after year.”
Mayor Thomas Hood said while walking the parade route that it was a “great day to be in Gurnee, celebrating a great day to be outside and be with all of our neighbors.”
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The Gurnee Days Committee announced that 2026 Gurnee Days honoree Gale Graves was also this year’s parade grand marshal.
According to her biography, Graves has a history of Lake County volunteerism and community service. In 2025, Graves was recognized by the Lake County Board through an official proclamation honoring her contributions. Graves is also vice president of Community Impact for United Way of Lake County.
“It is a tremendous honor,” Graves said while on the parade route. “Gurnee is a fabulous place to live. We’re doing great things. Come visit. Come join us. Move here; it’s a fabulous place.”
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, rode in an open-top red convertible.
“We’ve got to bring the country together,” he said. “We’ve got to unite people, fighting for and lowering costs, making life easier for all Americans.”
Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg was also on the parade route, handing treats to spectators.
“It’s a great day for all of us to get together to celebrate this great day and interact with the public,” Idleburg said. “I’m really enjoying this day and a great opportunity to meet people from all around the city, the county.”
Idleburg was seen greeting the Johnson family of Grayslake — Jim and Jen, and their daughter Juniper, 8, who were there to support her brother Odin, 12, who played the trombone with the Woodland Middle School Marching Wildcats band.
“It’s really fun,” Jen Johnson said. “We go every year, and it’s really cool that this year our son’s in the parade so he gets to experience everything from another side of it.”
Also appearing in the parade was Miss Gurnee Bella Payton, 17, who was recently crowned with younger members of the royal court.
“It is so amazing,” Payton said. “I get to meet so many new friends, and just get to visit all of these cool events.”
Anna Lange, 16, a rising junior at Warren Township High School, showed school spirit while shaking pompoms along with fellow dance team members.
About promoting Blue Devils high school spirit, she said, “Oh my gosh, so fun. I love it so much.”