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The Arcada Theatre, spring 2026
The St. Charles City Council approved a Main Street closure for a future parade marking the Arcada Theatre's 100th anniversary.
Scheduled for Saturday, September 6, 2026 at 5PM, the parade date falls exactly 100 years to the day after the historic downtown venue first opened. Arcada owner Ron Onesti presented the request and confirmed the city's police chief and parade commander have been working closely with his team on logistics.
Here's what to know:
The date and time: The parade will step off at 5PM on Saturday, September 6, with additional anniversary programming planned earlier in the day. Onesti said more announcements about the day's events are coming.
No lack of parade experience: Onesti is also the longtime organizer of Chicago's Columbus Day Parade, a two-hour, 200-entry event broadcast live on ABC TV.
Earlier concerns resolved: A few council members had initially hesitated when the parade was first proposed, citing questions about resident notification, street closure logistics, and public safety — but they said they are now comfortable moving forward.
A milestone for downtown: The Arcada has been a fixture of downtown St. Charles for a century. Onesti told the council the celebration is a chance to honor both the building's history and the community that has kept it going.
The parade is estimated to last approximately 30 minutes, navigating from 6th Street to Second Avenue, then head south on Second Avenue.
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