Town President Larry Dominick and Berwyn Mayor Robert Lovero kicked off the 43rd Annual Houby Day Parade Sunday capping a three day festival that featured entertainment, food and a carnival. The parade, which was originally started to recognize the contributions of Czech Americans, attracted more than 25,000 people on its parade route. Officials said it may be a record for the parade in the past two decades both for attendance and also parade duration.

The Festival is named after the Czechoslovakian word for “mushroom” and showcases much of the local culture and traditions of the Czech community which represented one of the original settlers in the Western suburb as well as the region’s other ethnic groups including Mexican Americans. “What really is exciting is how symbolic this parade has become for the west suburbs of Cicero and Berwyn. This year, our two municipalities sponsored and hosted the parade to make a bigger event,” said Town President Larry Dominick who was joined by his wife Elizabeth Dominick.

The parade was emceed by former Town Assessor John Kociolko and will broadcast on Cicero TV on Comcast Cable Channel 6 beginning this week. Cicero officials participating in the parade included Cicero Trustees Joe Virruso (Supervisor), Dennis Raleigh, Fran Reitz (Collector), Emilio Cundari (Assessor), Lorraine Walsh, Larry Banks, Victor Garcia and Town Clerk Maria Punzo-Arias. Also participating were State Senator Steve Landek, and State Representatives Mike Zalewski and Lisa Hernandez.