Toluca Labor Day Festival

05/23/2026

Parade entry forms are available. See the content below. You will need to contact: Roanna Richard, Tim O'Connor or Carla O'Connor for a form. Roanna's email is listed below. Tim & Carla's email is: [email protected]

At this time we do not have a Google Docs account for you to access. As a result the form does not display well here.

TOLUCA LABOR DAY PARADE
Toluca, Illinois 61369

“250 Years of American Independence and Labor” is the theme for the 2026 Toluca Labor Day Parade on Monday, September 7, 2026 at 2:00PM. Floats, cars, color guards, horses, etc. will be judged and prize money will be awarded for the following categories:

Commercial Ready-Made: 1st $100, 2nd $50
Commercial Homemade: 1st $100, 2nd $50
NonCommercial & Organizations: $100, 2nd $50
Antique/Classic Cars 1st $50, 2nd $40
Color Guard 1st $100
Antique Tractors 1st $50, 2nd $40
Horse/Pony/Rider 1st $50, 2nd $40

In memory of the late Judy Paulsen, who was involved with the Toluca Labor Day Parade for over 30 years, the annual JUDY PAULSEN GRAND PRIZE FLOAT AWARD of $100 will be given for the float that best represents the parade theme.

Any person or organization who wishes to participate in the parade, and who does not belong to one of the above categories, will be limited to one vehicle, due to the length of the parade.

We ask that all cars, trucks, flatbeds, etc. be decorated to some degree. Line-up will begin at 12:30PM at Fieldcrest Intermediate School, 306 N. Maple Street, where you will be assigned your number. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE CHECKED IN BY 1:45PM. Please have your unit intact upon arrival as judges will preview entrants prior to the start of the parade. Final judging will take place from the reviewing stand during the parade.

In order to keep the parade moving, we ask that all entrants stay no more than 30 feet apart.

NOTE: No farm machinery more than 10 feet wide will be allowed in the parade, due to safety concerns.

If you know of anyone else that would like to participate in the parade, please give them a copy of this form, or call or E-mail Roanna Richard at the contact information listed at the bottom of the form.

Please cut and return the form below to the parade committee by August 20, 2026.

Name: _________________________________ Phone:

Mailing Address: _____________________________________ Fax:

City: ____________________ State: Zip code: E-Mail: ___________________________

I/We wish to be entered in the following category , from the 7 listed above _____________________________:

Return to: Toluca Labor Day, Toluca Community Bank, 201 N. Main Street, Box 717, Toluca, Illinois 61369
Phone: 815-452-2321 Fax: 815-452-2005 E-Mail Roanna Richard: [email protected]

Note: FB does not allow the attachment of a form. The Parade Committee asks that you please fill in your complete name and address, phone number and E-mail address, if you have one. Please also include a short script, on back of a form, or on a separate sheet of paper, describing your entry and the names of persons you wish the emcee to announce during the parade. See you there!

Chuck Rolinski Memorial Bocce Tournament / Toluca Labor Day Bocce BallToluca Labor Day Beer Tent

04/19/2026

We are super excited to announce a brand new fundraiser for Toluca Labor Day Celebration.

We are have tickets available for a trip. You could win a trip for 2; at an all-inclusive Cancun Luxury Resort. This trip includes airfare out of O’Hare in Chicago. You pick the dates for your trip by working with the contracted travel agency and redeeming the travel voucher.

Only 200 tickets will be available! Tickets are $50 each.

Grand prize: Trip for 2
*in lieu of trip you may take $1350 in cash*
2nd prize: $200
3rd prize: $100

Drawing to be held at Toluca Cruise-In on Saturday, August 15th

*you do not need to be present to win*
*but to win you do need to acquire a ticket!*😆

Tickets available from any member of the Toluca Labor Day Committee: Brett Henry, Paula Nenne, Monica Schumacher, Roanna Richard, Mary Kay Ghiglieri, Toni or Dan Wudtke, Tyler or Nicole Schoon, Milissa or Jason Haugens, Tim or Carla O’Connor, or these businesses-Miller’s Hardware, Bill Fecht Country Financial Agency, Trends by Lori, Mona’s or Capponis, Scott @ Sud’s or by reaching out via this page.

Toluca Labor Day Beer TentChuck Rolinski Memorial Bocce Tournament / Toluca Labor Day Bocce BallCruise-In TolucaToluca Talk

04/17/2026

As we all know this year, marks 250 years of Freedom & Independence for our country. In keeping with that, the Toluca Labor Day Committee has chosen for their theme:
“250 Years of Freedom, Independence and American Labor!”

*edited*. We have 3 fundraisers this year. This is #1 of #3.
The annual distribution of drawdown tickets has also begun. There are 250 tickets available this year.

Drawdown is completed in the Beer Tent on Labor Day, Monday, September 7th at 4:30. Tickets are available at this time from Labor Day Committee members, selected businesses and by messaging the Labor Day Page.

Please get a drawdown ticket to help make the Labor Day event a success. Tickets are available from Monica Schumacher, Mary Kay Ghiglieri, Brett Henry, Tim & Carla O'Conner, Paula Nenne, Toni & Dan Wudtke, Greg Peterson, Milissa & Jason Haugens, Tyler & Nicole Schoon, Roanna Richard, Scott Gates @ Sud's, Toluca Community Bank, Country Financial Agent Bill Fecht’s, Mona’s & Capponis and Millers Hardware

Toluca Labor Day Beer Tent Chuck Rolinski Memorial Bocce Tournament / Toluca Labor Day Bocce Ball

04/13/2026

As we promised, we (Toluca Labor Day Committee) stated we would never give up. And we promised transparency…

The Toluca Labor Day Committee is super excited to announce - we have been actively working behind the scenes to find a carnival for 2026.

We are in active contract negotiations with a great carnival for 2026!

This carnival brings a large number of rides and food options.

Details still to be finalized before we can announce specifics - but it is looking very good!!! More to come in the next week!!!

Thank you for your patience and for your continued support!!!

Chuck Rolinski Memorial Bocce Tournament / Toluca Labor Day Bocce Ball, Toluca Labor Day Beer Tent, Toluca Talk, Mona's Italian Foods,Capponi's

03/23/2026

We received a lot of inquiries regarding the carnival status and how do we plan & manage our yearly event....so we wanted to provide as much detail as we had available.

The overall Toluca Labor Day Committee is actively pursuing a carnival for both this year and next year. Most carnivals sign multiple year contracts. What we are finding is that the majority of companies we have reached out to - have already signed their upcoming 2026 year contract. This year is the 250th anniversary of our country's independence and many additional festivals are occurring that normally would not be happening. So we ran up against that additional roadblock. A number of potential candidates were already under contract for 2026, but could be available for 2027.

There does not appear to be a hard and fast rule nor timeline as to when each carnival reviews and rewrites their yearly contracts - there are a variety of business models for the different carnivals that rewrite their contracts during October-February.

We have not given up, however; at this point in the carnival years cycle are hopes are diminishing . We have been pursuing alternate options for this coming year of 2026. We are pursuing a Midway event in place of the carnival that we will share more details on later this week.

At this time - we will have the everything we had last year minus the carnival/their carnival food trucks plus no vendor boutique.

Our committee is made up of multiple sub committees who focus on each major facet of the yearly event. Example of parade, beer tent, bocce, fundraising, etc. Overall we typically follow a yearly planning process : Stage 1:. September is Year end wrap-up, immediately following the celebration, Stage 2: October-January is idea generation/event planning stage. Stage 3: February - July this is when wemove past new idea generation and then jump into fundraising/sponsorship/nitty gritty background work and then Stage 4: August our final month is utilized for fine tuning of all events and managing each committees final push to ex*****on for the Toluca Labor Day weekend. Stage 5: Event

Timing of the loss of the carnival impacted our planning cycle and we quickly had to step back and execute idea generation/event planning all in one meeting in the month of February. We did also experience some movement (resignations) of positions on our committee and we are trying to move forward with the losses to build out this years weekend.

We hope this gives you a little more insight to how Toluca Labor Day Festival has normally planned the yearly event and how this years committee is evolving into a more accelerated format of planning and communication. Toluca Labor Day Beer Tent

03/22/2026

An important message regarding our beloved Toluca Labor Day Celebration. First and foremost - the annual Labor Day weekend will still be held.

We the committee recognize that there have been rumors in town about our beloved Labor Day weekend. The Labor Day Weekend will continue in 2026, however there are some changes. Details are evolving rapidly. It is best not to share specifics because they become ‘old news’ tomorrow. It is our goal to keep the community updated as decisions are firmed up.

We have all heard the words - “The show must go on!” And those have never been truer than this year. We need you and we need your support as we work through some changes in 2026.

So here we go – we are confirming that we do not have a carnival signed for the 2026 celebration.

We were unable to secure a signed contract with our regular carnival. The timing of that contract news/confirmation of the carnival’s decision precluded us from finding an acceptable alternative for 2026.

Without the carnival the event will feel different. Obviously, the carnival contributed financially and was primary entertainment and amusement for the weekend; along with our other events that we hold throughout the weekend.

This can be seen as a problem or as a challenge and opportunity for the future.

The committee is exploring ideas for replacement (inflatables, games, etc.) The current financial impact is also being reviewed and revised to provide the best substitute experience that we can for 2026. The committee is actively working on a carnival solution for 2027.

We will still have the majority of the remaining traditional Toluca Labor Day Events. Our big Parade, Bocce tournament, Beer Tent, Kiddie Games, Fishing Derby, Bingo, Softball Tournament, Golf Outing, American Legion Breakfast and many other events will continue in 2026.

It is also true that we will need to look for increased generosity of business and individuals, both from a financial perspective and the need for additional community volunteers available and assisting us, physically; on the Labor Day Weekend.

We need your continued patience and support as we work hard to sustain Toluca’s awesome weekend tradition. Let’s work together to find new ways to enjoy this amazing weekend in Toluca! A weekend we can all be proud of!

Toluca Labor Day Committee
Toluca Labor Day Beer Tent

02/26/2026

Good morning! Even with the snow on the ground, Spring is just around the corner. Can you believe we have less than 200 days until the annual Toluca Labor Day Celebration?!

The Toluca Labor Day Committee held their February meeting to finalize plans for the 2026 celebration.

Wanted to provide a little history on the committee and what we do. We are all volunteers. We dedicate time on a monthly basis for usually 1 meeting, sometimes 2 as the annual celebration approaches. The team works tirelessly behind the scenes and often times depending on the topic and date driven needs, may be working in weekly if not daily chats, phone calls, sub committee meetings, etc. Each of us has specific events, tasks and focuses for the weekend that we drive out and partner with others to organize and hold. We love what we do and we love this community. Our goal is always to bring a top notch weekend celebration for everyone to enjoy, make memories and enjoy old and new traditions.

This year we elected the following board members that will serve 1 to many years, depending on the need. President-Derick Littlejohn, Vice Presidents-Shane Fandel & ToniMarie Wudtke, Treasurer-Rick Alden, Secretary-Mary Kay Ghiglieri.

The committee currently has 20 dedicated volunteers: Rick Alden, Dwight Aussicker, Carissa Fandel, Shane Fandel, Scott Gates, Mary Kay Ghiglieri, Jason Haugens, Milissa Haugens, Brett Henry, Derick Littlejohn, Tommy Miller, Paula Nenne, Tim O'Connor, Carla M. O'Connor, Kassandra Overocker, Greg Peterson, Roanna Richards, Monica Schumacher, Dan Wudtke & ToniMarie Wudtke.
This committee works with many additional volunteers that help with the yearly weekend set up, clean up, bingo, American Legion breakfast, kiddie games, golf outing, beer tent, bocce ball, boutique market, ticket sales, fishing derby, touch a truck, softball, and so much more!

The committee is very grateful for the support from our many local business and restaurants in Toluca and our surrounding communities. The committee is very thankful for the many wonderful patrons - families and friends that who come up to enjoy the annual celebration. We could not do this without all of you. Thank you!

The committee is always open to feedback, new ideas and additional volunteers. Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns, etc. We love to improve and we love to entertain new ideas for this year and the future!

01/09/2026

Good morning to everyone who celebrates life in the many wonderful small town communities in the Toluca area and beyond.

On behalf of the Toluca Labor Day Board we wish you all an exciting new year and welcome to 2026.

The board wrapped up 2025 and is already in the midst of planning next year's festival.

In the next few days please check back on this page as we work to publish information, highlight festival team members, showcase our various business and supporters; as well as solicit your feedback, ideas and thoughts on what we can do to continue to improve our annual festival.

We hope we continue to build community and foster a team spirt to make the 2026 festival interesting, delightful, energetic and fun. Cheers! Toluca Labor Day Festival Boutique & Vendor Market Toluca Labor Day Beer Tent Chuck Rolinski Memorial Bocce Tournament / Toluca Labor Day Bocce Ball Toluca Talk

10/31/2025

Thank you for participation in the 100 square board for fund raising for the Toluca Labor Day!!! We are pleased to announce the three winners!

1st Prize $700 - Matt Modro - we want to thank Matt as he donated $250 of his winnings back to the Labor Day!

2nd Prize $200 - Sharon McCully - we want to thank Sharon as she donated $100 of the winnings back to the Labor Day!

3rd Prize $100 - Trent Monge - thanks to Trent for donating this all back to the Labor Day!

We cannot thank our winners enough for their donations. We also thank everyone who purchased squares in this fund raising event!! We intend to run another board in early December and look forward to your participation.

Your support allows for the great Toluca Labor Day Festival to be completed.

10/24/2025

Chuck Rolinski Memorial Bocce Tournament / Toluca Labor Day Bocce Ball

The Toluca Labor Day is running fund raiser on a 100 square board for Halloween! Each square is $20 per square with a total of three winners!!

First prize $ 700
Second prize $ 200
Third prize $ 100

Help support the Labor Day Event. Payments can be made to Toluca Labor Day at the Morton Community Bank in Toluca, drop to Rick Alden or by Venmo .

Please respond with numbers you want. Payouts will be completed when all payments are received.

Thanks for your support of the Toluca Labor Day!