10/23/20 Cantigny Reverse Halloween Car Parade

[Fleetfang (Brian Troyan)]

Event Name: Cantigny Reverse Halloween Car Parade
Event Date: October, 23th
Venue: Cantigny Park
Address: 1 S 151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL 60189
Event Time: 6:00pm to 9:00pm (Flexible attendance)
Arrival Time: 5:30pm
Requested number of characters: Any
Secure changing/staging area: Yes
Parking: North parking lot (to the left as you enter the park)
Parking/Entrance Fee: Wiaved if you tell the guard at the security station that you are a volunteer for the event.

Dust off those costumes early and come to Cantigny for a unique event! As their traditional trick-or-treat event can no longer take place, Cantingy Park has decided to make it a "reverse" car parade, where guests can drive through Cantigny to see themed displays of all the events that were missed this year.
Event Website: https://cantigny.org/event/family-night/

Cantigny Park has reached out to us to provide characters to liven up their displays.
This will be a socially-distant event with no direct interaction with members of the public.
Guests will drive through the parking lot to see the displays and will get a bag of candy at the end.

The displays will have a Halloween element to them, but mainly they will be highlighting the missed events from the past year (a French/Parisian theme in honor of their French Connection event, vintage cars for their Car Show, a Revolutionary War theme for their reenactments... See below for a complete list.).

CHARACTERS: In addition to our usual companions from the 501st and Mando Mercs, for this event we will be trooping alongside the Midwest chapter of Costumers With a Cause and the Windy City Ghostbusters. So ALL CHARACTERS ARE WELCOME! The only stipulation is that Cantigny has asked us to steer away from any horror movies that are marketed to a 17+ age group. (Sorry, Misters Krueger, Myers, and Voorhees!) But anything else is fair game!

CHANGING SPACE: We will have space in the Visitors' Center to change into costume, if we wish.

REFRESHMENTS: We will have space in the Visitor's Center to change into costume, should you need it. They will also be providing bottled water for volunteers. Note, however, that there will be NO CONCESSIONS or food available on-site, so you may want to grab a bite to eat beforehand.

CHARITY: There is not a charity aspect to this event, but since proceeds benefit the 501(c)(3) Robert R. McCormick Foundation that runs the park, our appearance has been approved by Lucasfilm. It will be ticketed for members of the public ($6 per car), but that fee will be waived for those who are working the event. Just tell the guard at the security booth that you're with the event, and they should waive your parking/entrance fee.

ARRIVAL: We can arrive as early as we like. Cantigny is hoping that initial shift volunteers be in place by 5:30 PM. BUT since this is on a weekday, and it begins very close to the end of a regular business day, we are welcome to arrive when we are able and/or to stay for the full event or for as long as we are able.

LIST OF DISPLAYS:
In case anyone would like to plan their costume around one of the displays that Cantigny will be setting up, here is the list that I've been provided:
- Mr. and Mrs. McCormick
- Cantigny Golf with Golfzilla
- Easter, with Mr. and Mrs. Bunny
- The Eiffel Tower representing French Weekend with mime.
- Sky Dogs, etc.
- Cantigny “Zombie” 5K with Jack Skellington on stilts
- Representation from Military Through the Ages
- The North West Territory Alliance with Revolutionary War representation
- Trickster Cultural Center will represent our Native Veterans in absence of our National Gathering.
- The Medinah Shriners from Addison, who will be bringing out their choppers and tiny cars.
- Smokey the War Dog and his Tank.
- The First Division Museum’s very own WWII Stuart Tank will be smashing pumpkins.
- Misc. historical vehicles from the FDM collection with volunteers in historical gear.
- Uniformed Marines with Toys for Tots.
- Car Show – Knight Rider’s KITT from RJ Recording & Sound. One of 10 official The Blues Brothers cars from Lance Haack and a Chicago Cop Car. Local vintage antique classic cars from 1930-1976. ECTO-1 from the Windy City Ghostbusters.
- Concerts – Vital Signs “Mummy” Band

NOTE: If the Base would like to contribute a display of our own, that can be accommodated. If there is interest from anyone in possession of an outdoor-ready set-up, please let me know below as soon as possible so that we can coordinate with the event hosts! Note, too, that it will need to be set up prior to 5:30pm on the day of the event.

Here's hoping we can get a motley crew together for some swell hosts and a great venue that's had a tough year during the lockdown!
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TK/IG/BH/DZ/ID/TB-8968