February 11, 2025
Local News

Corn Fest parking closures coming

By JEANNE MILLSAP

Drivers are reminded not to drive around barriers during the week of Corn Festival, as the barriers are erected for the safety of pedestrians at the event. (Jeanne Millsap)

There will be several road closures before and during this year’s Grundy County Corn Festival parade in downtown Morris on Sunday, Oct. 1.

Festival board member and parade organizer Cindie Hunt said those driving around the area of the parade should remember to drive very slowly and cautiously, as pedestrians, including many children, will be walking in the vicinity all morning and most of the afternoon.

Hunt also asked drivers not to go around the barricades to get to a street that is blocked off. The barricades are set up for safety of the people who are participating in and attending the parade, she said.

Cars that park in “no parking” areas will be towed.

The parade step off is at 2 p.m., and cars will not be allowed to park along several streets that day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Those streets include:

 West Washington Street, from Wauponsee Street west to the end of Washington.

 Illinois Avenue, from Wauponsee Street to the end of Illinois.

 The south side of Jefferson Street/Fremont Avenue from Fulton Street to West Avenue.

 Nettle Street (both sides) from Jefferson Street to Illinois Avenue.

 The north side of Goold Park Drive, from Fulton Street to West Avenue.

 The west side of West Avenue, from the railroad tracks to Fremont Avenue.

 Fulton Street and Calhoun Street, from Illinois Avenue to Jefferson Street.

 The east side of Fulton Street, from Chapin to Jefferson Streets.

 The four streets surrounding Chapin Park: Fulton, Benton, Wauponsee and Chapin Streets.

Main Street from Fulton to Nettle Streets.

Also, no parking will be allowed on the parade route itself beginning at 11 a.m. parade day through the end of the parade. The parade route is along Washington Street east to Liberty Street, and Liberty north to Depot Street.

Also, no vehicles will be allowed into the parade lineup areas except those participating in the parade. Those who have not been given a parade unit number will not be allowed into the parade lineup area.

Parade participants who are not given a unit number may be dropped off at the closest intersection with Jefferson Street.

School buses, floats and other vehicles must have room to navigate the streets, and many of the designated no parking areas are necessary for these larger vehicles and to safely transport bands and other students to the parade.

With the limited number of parking spaces close to the parade, the Morris Moose Lodge makes parking easier by offering free shuttle service to and from the downtown area on parade day.

Anyone can get a ride. The shuttle service runs throughout the morning and early afternoon, dropping riders off downtown at the corner of Washington and Franklin Streets, across from the Grundy County Courthouse. After the parade ends, the shuttle return riders to the Moose lot up to an hour after the parade ends.

For information about the shuttle, call 815-942-3545.