DeKALB | The sounds of music and cheering echoed along Lincoln Highway as hundreds of participants and spectators lined the streets to welcome a once-in-a-lifetime parade.

The theme of the parade, “Celebrating Community,” brought together the residents of DeKalb and NIU. The joint communities are celebrating anniversaries as 2006 marks DeKalb’s Sesquicentennial and NIU’s 100th Homecoming.

“It’s a proud fact that this city has been growing bigger and bigger and better and better,” said Sumanthi Ross, DeKalb’s Sesquicentennial Community co-chair. “There was a lot of community spirit in those days. Fifty years ago, there was more leisure time.”

There were more than 150 entries in the parade this year.

“We’ve had a lot of volunteers,” Ross said. “There’s a lot of good people. They have taken the time to help. They did such a super job selling and being in the parade.”

She said the parade was so big the city should have had a block party.

Adding to the ambiance were marching bands and small ensembles that played “My Girl,” selections from the “Wizard of Oz” and barber shop harmonies to create a nostalgic spirit.

Retired NIU secretary Margie Hargrave, 61, of Sycamore, recalled Northern’s homecoming parades. Nancy Jackson, 71, of DeKalb, also remembered when the parade had a much larger route.

“They quit that because of the trains,” she said.

This year’s parade route stretched from Fourth Street along Lincoln Highway, then turned north onto Normal Road and continued down Lucinda Avenue to end at the Chick Evans Field House.

Dave Lay, 55, was born in DeKalb and was a spectator at the original centennial parade in 1956. He joked about a temporary jail that men were put in if they didn’t participate in growing a beard or mustache for the celebration.

“It was on First [Street] and Lincoln [Highway],” Lay said. “It was fun. You would go to jail, but you’d be put in for about five minutes.”

Lay’s daughter participated in the parade by riding on Brian Granger’s Construction float, which was constructed to resemble Altgeld Hall.

“A lot of pride goes into their work,” said Cheryl Lay. “[The float] goes into the Pumpkin Parade and always wins a trophy.”

Bill Lofthouse, 51, of DeKalb, participated in the town’s 1971 parade by playing trumpet in the Sycamore High School marching band. Joining him Saturday was his grandson.

“He just turned a year,” Lofthouse said. “I thought it would be nice for him to see his first parade.”

Students also came out to watch the festivities.

“I work at DeKalb library and I’ve been hearing about [the parade] for a while now,” said Darcy Tatlock, a senior art education major. “This is my fifth year at Northern. I thought maybe I should do homecoming once.”

Accompanying Tatlock was Izzy Alvardo, an auto technician student at Waubonsee Community College.

“I’d have to say my favorite part is the marching bands,” Alvardo said.

Katie Trusk is a City Reporter for the Northern Star