Sunday, 18 May, at 12:30 p.m. (muster); 1:30 p.m. (step-off):

Lombard’s Lilac Parade. Muster at 12:30 a.m. at National University of Health Sciences, located at 200 East Roosevelt Road, in Lombard. Uniform is blue WSSC parade shirt and wear your fez! Please click here to review the protocol guide, with useful reminders about fez wear and parade cars. Email Petey to let him know you’ll be there to drive a Roaring ‘57, march, carry the banner, provide a convertible, or ride in a convertible.

Monday, 26 May. We’ll split the unit into two teams of four cars each. Email Petey to tell him in which parade you want to participate:

Wauconda’s Memorial Day parade. Medinah-wide participation. Muster at 9:00 at the Wauconda Public Works Garage, located on Main Street at North Avenue, in Wauconda. Uniform is your choice of red or blue WSSC parade shirt, and wear your fez! Afterglow will be held at the American Legion Hall, located at 551 S Main Street, in Wauconda. Please click here to review the protocol guide, with useful reminders about fez wear and parade cars. Email Petey to let him know you’ll be there to drive a Roaring ‘57, march, carry the banner, provide a convertible, or ride in a convertible.

Itasca’s Memorial Day parade. Muster at 9:00 a.m. at Saint Matthew’s Church, located at 733 Catalpa Avenue, in Itasca. Uniform is your choice of red or blue WSSC parade shirt, and wear your fez! Please click here to review the protocol guide, with useful reminders about fez wear and parade cars. Email Petey to let him know you’ll be there to drive a Roaring ‘57, march, carry the banner, provide a convertible, or ride in a convertible.

LaGrange’s Pet Parade. Special ladies’ parade; our ladies will form a cheering section for us. Drop off your lady before 8:30 a.m. at Jac’s Custom Sewing & Embroidery, located at 700 West Burlington Avenue, and muster at 8:30 a.m. at the WSSC trailer, located on East Maple Avenue, east of South LaGrange Road. Uniform is red WSSC parade shirt and wear your fez! Bring your furry babies to the 61st annual Pet Parade. Over 10,000 people attend the parade, held in conjunction with the “Experience La Grange Weekend,” which offers carnival rides catering to children, food and beverage vendors and various games of skill and chance. Children of all ages have delighted in one of the Western Suburbs’ most treasured events: America’s original Pet Parade! This colourful, crowd-pleasing event is sponsored by Pets and Pals Charities Ltd., and is truly one of a kind. We hope that you will join us to witness the pageantry. From children showcasing their pets, to marching bands, floats, and clowns, the Pet Parade provides wholesome fun and entertainment for the entire family. Please click here to review the protocol guide, with useful reminders about fez wear and parade cars. Email Petey to let him know you’ll be there to drive a Roaring ‘57, march, carry the banner, provide a convertible, or ride in a convertible.

Sunday, 1 June. 11:00am–1:00pm (public tours of the Hospital, IL-CHIP, lunch); 1:00pm (Hospital programme); 2:00pm (parade):

annual Hospital Day centennial celebration & parade – plus child ID programme. At the Chicago Shriners Hospital for Children, located at 2211 North Oak Park Avenue in Chicago. Medinah-wide participation. Uniform is blue WSSC parade shirt, and wear your fez! Turn out to show your support for the World’s Greatest Philanthropy. Tour our hospital – celebrating our 102nd year of repairing Chicagoland’s crippled children and giving them new lives – and participate in the “shortest parade in Shrinedom!” Open to the public. Events include free Illinois Child Identification Programme provided by Paul Revere Lodge No. 998, giant model train display, historic toys collection, entertainment by our more talented patients, and more. Park your real car in the parking lots of either Masterfoods/Mars, located at 2019 North Oak Park Avenue, or the Metra’s Mars railroad station, located at 6801 West Shakespeare Avenue (each is just south of the Hospital on Oak Park Avenue), and either shuttle one of the Roaring ‘57s over to the Hospital with us, or ride the shuttle bus. Bring your lady and your friends; everyone is invited. Show them what makes us so very proud to be Shriners – giving new lives to children. Please click here to review the protocol guide, with useful reminders about fez wear and parade cars. Email Petey to let him know you’ll be there to drive a Roaring ‘57, march, carry the banner, provide a convertible, or ride in a convertible. Click here for the agenda. If you know a child whom Shriners Hospitals might be able to help, please call our toll-free patient referral line, 800-237-5055. Click here to see how you can help the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Wednesday Evening, 4 June, at 6:30 p.m.:

monthly WSSC stag dinner, in the Oasis of our Medinah Shrine Centre, located at 550 North Shriners Drive, in Addison. Details will be posted when published. To ensure we have the proper amount of space and food, please email 3rd Vice President, Noble Dave Wray, or telephone him at 708-609-0105.

Saturday Evening, 7 June, at 4:30 p.m. (doors open); 5:00 p.m. (instruction); 6:00 p.m. (open dancing):

Medinah Shriners’ dancing in the Oasis, in the Oasis of our Medinah Shrine Centre, located at 550 North Shriners Drive, in Addison. The Oasis is excited to have the same dance instructors we previously enjoyed and with whom we had a rewarding time. Just an evening of friends and dancing! The cost is US$8.00 per person or US$15.00 per couple; proceeds benefit the Medinah Shriners and are not deductible. Everyone is welcome! The evenings dress is “tastefully casual” and no fez. Reservations are a must, so please ring 630-458-0200 to reserve. While there, enjoy a dinner with us afterwards in the Oasis lounge (Oasis menu available for an additional cost).

Friday, 13 June, 12:00 noon (lunch); 2:00 p.m. (shotgun start); 7:00-9:00 p.m. (open bar); 8:00 p.m. (dinner):

Medinah Potentate's golf outing. At Carriage Greens Country Club, located at 8700 Carriage Greens Drive, in Darien. Open to nobles, ladies and guests. We will have four-person teams, with a shot-gun start. For only US$105 per golfer, you get  lunch, a golf cart, an open bar featuring premium liquor, a buffet dinner, prizes, and a longest put contest. Non-golfers can enjoy dinner, libations, board games, and gin games for only US$40 per person. Proceeds benefit the Medinah Shriners and are not deductible. Click here for an informative flyer and reservations form. For more information, ring Noble Lance Evans at 630-910-0874.

Waukegan American Independence parade. Muster at 12:00 noon at Bowen Park. Parking is available near the intersection of Sheridan Road and Parmalee Place, in Waukegan. We are leading this parade! Uniform is your choice of red or blue WSSC parade shirt and wear your fez! Bring white pants in case you draw marching duty. Please click here to review the protocol guide, with useful reminders about fez wear and parade cars. Email Petey to let him know you’ll be there to drive a Roaring ‘57, march, carry the banner, provide a convertible, or ride in a convertible.

Shrine Imperial parade. Muster at a time in the early evening at a location to be posted in our hotel. This is the Imperial parade; we’ll be among Shriners from all over North America. Uniform is your choice of red or blue WSSC parade shirt and wear your fez! Bring white pants in case you draw marching duty. Please click here to review the protocol guide, with useful reminders about fez wear and parade cars. Email Petey to let him know you’ll be there to drive a Roaring ‘57, march, carry the banner, provide a convertible, or ride in a convertible.

Wednesday Evening, 9 July, at 6:30 p.m.:

Saturday Evening, 12 July, exact time to be announced:

West Suburban Shrine Club dinner cruise on Lake Michigan For only US$45.00 per person, you and your lady can enjoy a three-hour sightseeing party cruise on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan with the West Suburban Shrine Club. Dinner features a hot buffet, with two drinks included in the price. Please get your ticket orders in quickly; we must sell two hundred tickets in order to secure the booking, and we can have a maximum of four hundred tickets. The deadline is 1 June. For more information, email WSSC President, Noble Dan Smith, or ring him at 815-693-9362. Make your cheques payable to West Suburban Shrine Club and post them in the mails to Dan Smith at 9341 Witham Ln, Woodridge IL 60517-7643. Proceeds benefit West Suburban Shrine Club and are not deductible. Click here for an informative flyer and reservations form.

Sunday, 13 July, 12:00 noon:

West Chicago’s Railroad Days parade. Muster at 12:00 noon in the parking lot of Turner Elementary School, located at 750 Ingalton Avenue, in West Chicago. Uniform is blue WSSC parade shirt, and wear your fez! Bring white pants in case you draw marching duty. Please click here to review the protocol guide, with useful reminders about fez wear and parade cars. Email Petey to let him know you’ll be there to drive a Roaring ‘57, march, carry the banner, provide a convertible, or ride in a convertible.

Evening, at 3:00-7:00 p.m.:

Medinah Shriners’ rib-fest (previously the annual steak fry). At our Medinah Shrine Centre, located at 550 North Shriners Drive, in Addison. Everyone is invited - Nobles, family, friends, and the public. The theme for this year is a “Good old Western hoe-down rib-fest,” featuring a slab of ribs or one-half of a chicken per person (hamburgers for the children), French fried potatoes, slow baked beans, creamy cole slaw, rolls, apple pie, camel’s milk, wine and soda-pop – all for only US$25.00 (US$30.00 after 7 July) per person; children’s hamburger tickets are US$10.00 each. Entertainment includes a Dolly Parton look-alike contest, wife-calling contest, husband-calling contest, best-dressed cowgirl contest, and best-dressed cowboy contest. Western attire is suggested. The electronics drawing for six great prizes will be held at this event. Proceeds benefit the Medinah Shriners and are not deductible. Click here for an informative flyer and reservations form. For more information, please ring 630-899-1400.

Saturday, 19 July, at 10:00 a.m.:

Medinah Shriners' annual driving excitement with the Richard Petty Driving Experience, at Chicagoland Speedway, located at 500 Speedway Boulevard in Joliet. Let them put you in the driver’s seat or come out and enjoy being a spectator. Choose from three exciting, custom racing packages :

Package #1, Medinah Cup VIP Spectator: Includes a buffet lunch and full access to the pit road viewing area for the entire day’s programme, for US$50.00.

Package #2, Medinah Cup Qualifier, includes everything listed in package #1, plus a three-lap Ride-Along in an authentic Nextel Cup style race car! Hold on to your fez; you’ll be reaching speeds up to 165 mph, for a mere US$125.00.

Package #3, Medinah Cup Pole Position: Includes the buffet lunch and pit access, plus eight laps BEHIND THE WHEEL of an authentic Nextel Cup style race car. After classroom & on-track instruction, you’ll be ready to take control – just you and 600 horsepower on Chicagoland Speedway’s lightning fast 1.5 mile tri-oval! Only US$390.00 for an experience you’ll be bragging about to your friends and family for the rest of your life.

The deadline is 1 April, so please fill out the registration form and mail it back quickly to Bonnie’s attention at the Medinah office, 550 N Shriners Dr, Addison IL  60101-1444. Free parking for all packages. Custom, high-quality photo plaques are available for purchase immediately after your experience. Open to Medinah Shriners, ladies and friends. Uniform is red or black WSSC shirt (no fez). Click here for an informative flyer and reservation form.

Sunday, 20 July. We’ll split the unit into two teams of four cars each. Email Petey to tell him in which parade you want to participate:

Lake Zurich’s Alpine Days parade. 10:30 a.m. muster in the parking lot of Paulus Park, located at 200 South Rand Road, in Lake Zurich. This is Lake County’s largest parade, with six trophies up for grabs. Alpine Days draws an estimated 10,000 people to the park for the three days of carnival rides, carnival games, food, fun family events and entertainment. The final day of the festival includes the Alpine parade down main Street. It is the biggest single event of the year in Lake Zurich. Uniform is blue WSSC parade shirt, and wear your fez! Bring white pants in case you draw marching duty. Please click here to review the protocol guide, with useful reminders about fez wear and parade cars. Email Petey to let him know you’ll be there to drive a Roaring ‘57, march, carry the banner, provide a convertible, or ride in a convertible.

McHenry Fiesta Days parade. Muster at 12:30 p.m. at the Metra station parking lot, located at 4005 Main Street, in McHenry. Uniform is blue WSSC parade shirt and wear your fez! Bring white pants in case you draw marching duty. Please click here to review the protocol guide, with useful reminders about fez wear and parade cars. Email Petey to let him know you’ll be there to drive a Roaring ‘57, march, carry the banner, provide a convertible, or ride in a convertible.

Saturday, 26 July, at 10:00 a.m. (muster):

Algonquin Founders Days parade. Muster at 10:00 a.m. in the parking lot located at parking lot at the intersection of Route 31 (Main Street) and Huntington Drive, in Algonquin. Uniform is red WSSC parade shirt and wear your fez! Bring white pants in case you draw marching duty. Please click here to review the protocol guide, with useful reminders about fez wear and parade cars. Email Petey to let him know you’ll be there to drive a go-cart, march, carry the banner, provide a convertible, or ride in a convertible.

Saturday-Wednesday, 26-30 July:

International Order of the Rainbow for Girls’ Supreme Council session, at the historic Hilton Chicago (f/k/a the Chicago Hilton & Towers, the Conrad Hilton, the Stevenson Hotel), located at 720 South Michigan Avenue, in Chicago. Details will be posted when published. Contact the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls for more information.

Sunday, 27 July:

Medinah Shriners’ all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast & huge bake sale, at 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Open to the Public. In the main ballroom of our Medinah Shrine Centre, located at 550 North Shriners Drive, in Addison. Breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, sausages, coffee, milk, and orange juice. The price is only US$6.00 for adults & children twelve years of age and older, and US$3.00 for children aged two to eleven years. A special family package for two adults and three children costs but US$18, with each additional child's breakfast costing only US$2.00. Proceeds benefit the Medinah Shriners and are not deductible. Click here for an informative flyer.

Medinah Shriners’ car show, at 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (open), 3:00 p.m. (trophies awarded). At our Medinah Shrine Centre, located at 550 North Shriners Drive, in Addison. All are welcome to enter (nobles, family, friends, neighbours, and the public). Enter your car for only US$15.00 (if postmarked no later than 12 July; otherwise, the registration fee is US$20.00). Food and beverages will be available; please leave your coolers at home. Proceeds benefit the Medinah Shriners and are not deductible. Click here for an informative flyer and registration form. For more information, ring 630-899-1400.

Medinah Shriners’ sock hop, at 4:00 0.m. - 9:00 p.m. At our Medinah Shrine Centre, located at 550 North Shriners Drive, in Addison. For nobles, nobles, family and friends. Only US$5.00 per person (kids under twelve years of age enter free). 1950s-style diner food available. Cash bar. Entertainment by Rex (not an impersonator, but an entertainer: an event, an evening, you won't forget!) Proceeds benefit the Medinah Shriners and are not deductible. Click here for an informative flyer and registration form. For more information, ring 630-899-1400.

Wednesday-Saturday, 30 July – 2 August:

Illinois York Rite grand annual assemblies, at Hotel Pčre Marquette, located at 501 Main Street, in Peoria. Wednesday features registration, golf outing and meetings of the various Grand committees and charities, as well as the state-wide degree work of the Knight Masons U.S.A.; Thursday features the Annual Assembly of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Illinois; Friday features the Annual Convocation of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Illinois, opened in form this year by LaFayette Chapter No. 2 of Chicago, using the fabled “Blackhawk Ritual”; and Saturday features the Annual Conclave, Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Illinois. Details will be posted when published. Please click here for forms which will be made available as they are published.

Saturday, 2 August, exact time to be announced:

The Oasis presents karaoke night. In the Oasis of our Medinah Shrine Centre, located at 550 North Shriners Drive, in Addison. Details will be posted when published. Proceeds benefit the Medinah Shriners and are not deductible. For more information, ring 630-899-1400.

Sunday, 3 August, at 12:00 (muster):

Ottawa’s Riverfest parade. Special ladies’ parade; our ladies will form a cheering section for us. Drop off your lady at Fire Station 1 located at 301 West LaFayette Street, in Ottawa, and muster at the U.S. Silica plant, located at 701 Boyce Memorial Drive, in Ottawa. We know this is further out than most of our parades, but we had such a great time the last two years that we had to go back – plus they love us there! After we pack up the Roaring ‘57s, please join us as we caravan to a Dutch-treat afterglow, at Ripp’s Tavern, located at 311 North Main Street, in the neighbouring town of Ladd, and serving the best known US$4.00 fried chicken in LaSalle County. Mal and Mary Condie turned us onto this place three years ago, and it was fabulous. Uniform is blue parade shirt, and wear your fez! Email Petey to let him know you’ll be there to drive a Roaring ‘57, march, carry the banner, provide a convertible, or ride in a convertible.

Wednesday Evening, 6 August, at 6:30 p.m.:

WSSC’s annual Elvis Night at the ballpark. Join West Suburban Shrine Club at U.S. Cellular Field (formerly “New” Comiskey Park; formerly the parking lot for “old” Comiskey Park), as the Chicago White Sox host the Rays (from the home of our Imperial Headquarters, Tampa), and get an Elvis show for the bargain – the E Team will parachute into the field dressed in their finest Presley garb. For a modest price to be announced (pony up the cabbage by July 6), you can relax on the bus and enjoy unlimited beer, wine and soda-pop, along with Bertucci’s delicious menu at the patio party open from 90 minutes before the game until thirty minutes into the game. Family and friends are very welcome. Catch the bus at a location to be announced (sometimes we use Riverside Masonic Temple; sometimes the First Student terminal in Hodgkins).

Sunday, 21 September, at 12:00 noon (muster):

Dwight’s Harvest Days parade. Muster under the grain elevator. Take I-55 south to Dwight, exit onto Illinois Route 17 and turn left; turn left again onto Old U.S. Route 66 and follow the signs to the grain elevator. Click here for an approximate MapQuest map & directions. The parade kicks off with the 10th annual Basset Hound Waddle, where hundreds of bassets and their owners parade down Mazon Avenue. We know that Dwight is a bit of a drive, but they are providing a very generous honorarium for our attendance; there is also a carnival, craft show and a petting zoo, so bring the family and make a day of it. Uniform is blue parade shirt, and wear your fez! Please click here to review the protocol guide, with useful reminders about fez wear and parade cars. Email Petey to let him know you’ll be there to drive a go-cart, march, carry the banner, provide a convertible, or ride in a convertible.

Sunday, 28 September, exact time to be announced:

Medinah Shriners’ annual chilli cook-off. At our Medinah Shrine Centre, located at 550 North Shriners Drive, in Addison. Details will be posted when published. Proceeds benefit the Medinah Shriners and are not deductible. For more information, ring 630-899-1400.

Wednesday Evening, 1 October, at 6:30 p.m.:

monthly WSSC stag dinner, in the Oasis of our Medinah Shrine Centre, located at 550 North Shriners Drive, in Addison. Details will be posted when published. To ensure we have the proper amount of space and food, please email 3rd Vice President, Noble Dave Wray, or telephone him at 708-609-0105.

monthly WSSC stag dinner, at Home Run Inn Pizza, located at 7521 Lemont Road, in Darien. To ensure we have the proper amount of space and food, please email 3rd Vice President, Noble Dave Wray, or telephone him at 708-609-0105.