On Saturday, Sept. 7, the 49th edition of the Arcola Broom Corn Festival will include its first LGBTQ-themed parade entryconsisting of a group led by local native Michael Doyle, The News-Gazette reported.
Arcola is a town of approximately 3,000 people in Douglas County, Illinois, and it is about 160 miles south of Chicago. According to the town's wbsite, Arcola is the birthplace of Johnny Gruelle, creator of Raggedy Ann and Andy.
The group plans to walk behind a banner with the words "Stonewall 50." Helping coordinate entry No. 39 in the parade will be Tyger McClure, who organized a similar venture at a parade in Paxton on June 30. ( Windy City Times recently ran a profile of McClure that is at Article Link Here . )
The News-Gazette item is at Website Link Here .