West Cook News

The Village of River Forest will commemorate its 100th Annual Memorial Day Parade on May 26, 2025, starting at 9:30 a.m. This long-standing event honors the United States Armed Forces members who lost their lives while serving the country.

An essential part of the event is the Memorial Day Honor Roll. Residents can nominate veterans and active-duty service members for recognition. The ceremony follows the parade.

The parade is organized with the River Forest Park District, Kiwanis Club of River Forest–Oak Park, and the Oak Park–River Forest Chamber of Commerce. It starts at Ashland Avenue and Augusta Street, proceeding south on Ashland and west on Lake Street, ending at Keystone Park with a community ceremony and a hot dog lunch.

The event will feature over 100 community groups, organizations, and local leaders. A “No Siren Zone” will be maintained from Augusta Street to Iowa Street for sensitive attendees. More details about the parade and registration are available on the River Forest Park District Memorial Day page.

After the parade, the Oak Park–River Forest Chamber of Commerce will host the Memorial Day Business Bash, a new street fair celebrating local and veteran-owned businesses. The fair will occur near the parade's endpoint, featuring vendor booths, live music, food trucks, and family activities from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Vendor setups begin at 8:30 a.m. Businesses interested in participating can find registration information on the Chamber's Business Bash page.

For questions about the parade and community celebration, the River Forest Park District can be contacted, while vendor-related inquiries should be directed to the Oak Park–River Forest Chamber of Commerce.

“We look forward to seeing you and your families at this special 100th anniversary event.”