2nd India Day Parade, Celebration & Concert in Naperville on August 14, 2016 — Free Entry

This is an archived community event announcement from Naperville Indian Community Outreach (ICO). Event details below are as announced by the organizers.

Sunidhi Chauhan to headline the concert as Grand Marshal

NAPERVILLE, IL — Naperville Indian Community Outreach, in association with the City of Naperville and the Indian Consulate General, will host its second India Day Parade and celebration on Sunday, August 14, 2016, marking the 70th year of India's independence.

Organizers expect several thousand people from Chicago and the suburbs to attend the downtown Naperville event. With Bollywood singer Sunidhi Chauhan as Grand Marshal, the parade is planned as a showcase of India's rich and diverse culture, with organizers projecting around 100 parade entries — colorfully decorated floats from Indian cultural associations, local businesses and community groups, plus dance performers.

From the 2015 India Day Parade

The parade will be followed by a concert headlined by Sunidhi Chauhan and her troupe — with free entry for everyone, according to organizers.

ICO is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and promote the cultural heritage and contributions of Indian Americans while supporting their integration in Naperville. Its chairman, Krishna Bansal — appointed by and reporting to the Mayor of Naperville — said the team was excited to organize the event. "Indian Americans are now a significant part of Naperville's population, both in numbers and impact," he said.

Organizers described the local Indian-American community as one of the fastest-growing in the Chicago suburbs, with Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico and the Consul General of India in Chicago, Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, attending as chief guests. Among other invited dignitaries: the Governor, Senators, Congressmen, state and local elected representatives, and prominent Naperville community leaders.

The parade will begin at Naperville Central High School at 5:00 PM and end at Knoch Park (724 S. West St., Naperville, IL 60540), where the celebration and concert kick off. ICO says the event is an opportunity for local businesses and groups to participate and gain visibility.

Archived 2016 announcement. Event details reflect the original organizer press release.