The 24th Annual Wizard of Oz Festival committee is proud to announce that the OZ Fantasy Parade will kick off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 in downtown Chesterton. This year’s parade will be led by the United States Naval Color Guard and Chesterton’s own award winning Trojan Guard Marching Band. This year’s Grand Marshal is Caren Marsh-Doll. Caren was the stand-in for Judy Garland in the 1939 MGM film classic the Wizard of Oz.

The popular parade includes between 50 and 60 units, each reflecting the Wizard of Oz theme on the classic MGM movie. The theme for this year’s parade is “Dorothy and the Scarecrow meet the Tin Man along the Yellow Brick Road.”

From dozens of little Dorothys to numerous Cowardly Lions, Scarecrows and Tin Men, this parade is a delight for all ages.

Each year more and more of the characters from the famous 1939 movie classic come to life on the streets of Chesterton. There will be Totos, Flying Monkeys, Winkies, Good Witches and Wicked Witches. Ruby slippers will abound.

For information, contact the Lakeshore Festival & Events office at 983-1691.

Posted 9/15/2005