The History of Lemont Keepataw Day

*Lemont High School Marching Band at Keepataw Day in 2022*

In the summertime in Lemont, you’re almost certain to find a block party, festival, or parade any day of the week. Once the weather clears, folks are usually knocking on the doors of Village Hall asking for information on Cruise Nights, Soirees, and Farmers Market. We’ve always been like this.

In the early 1900s, festivals were held to usher in the summer, celebrate Independence Day, or close out the harvest season. In an essay by Barb Bannon, she states that “fun centered around races – four-legged or four-wheeled with horses, and the two-legged wheelbarrow race.” Each year the festivities expanded to include parades, performances, games, and dancing.

Lemonters didn’t even need a holiday to have a parade or festival but with nothing scheduled for Labor Day, Keepataw Day was born.

*Business Floats at Keepataw Day in 1950s*

First celebrated in 1949, the Lemont Keepataw Day Parade is a time-old tradition named after Potawatomi Chief Keepataw. In the early 1800s, Chief Keepataw and his nomad tribe settled in the region around today’s Lemont. This area of the Des Plaines River Valley was an ideal setting because they had hunting and fishing and the waterways for transportation.

Honoring the sense of community of native tribes, Keepataw Day was created as a celebration of hometown pride honoring local businesses, community organizations, and service members.

How We Celebrate

Keepataw Days have always been organized by the people for the people with the celebration evolving through the years.

In the early days, cowboys arrived on horseback in the 1950s as a nod to Indigenous tribes while local businesses outfitted vehicles that joined the parade route.

The Lemont Jaycees were founded in 1955 as an organization of young men dedicated to the development of their community. They took over the organization of Keepataw Days in the 1960s.

While now condensed to a single day of festivities, the modern Keepataw Day still boasts a parade and festival with food, games, and entertainment. Keepataw Day is still organized by a group of volunteers working throughout the year to plan and fundraise.

The parade has a rich history of veteran support, school spirit, and community involvement. School teams, clubs, societies, local businesses, community leaders, first responders, and more proudly parade through our downtown as they showcase their members and achievements.

You’ll find representation of early settlers and ethnic groups in Lemont at the parade. Groups representing Polish, German, Irish, Lithuanian, and religious organizations still walk the parade route or perform like the Chicago Stock Yard Kilty Band.

Get Involved

Lemont Keepataw Day continues to be a celebration of the community that makes Lemont what it is. Today, Lemont Keepataw Day is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) arts, culture, and humanities organization managed by a committee of volunteers.

This year's parade theme is "Village of Volunteers" to honor the many individuals and organizations who tirelessly provide support and assistance to others in the community.

Volunteer during the day of events or join the committee and save the date to attend on Sunday, September 1, 2024.

Learn More About Lemont Keepataw Day

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