Olympic gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield traded the ice rink for Main Street on Saturday as she returned to her hometown roots to lead Orland Park’s Red, White & Blue BBQ Fest and Parade as grand marshal.
Crowds lined Park Station Boulevard and Jillian Road as the hometown hockey star helped kick off the village’s America 250 celebration during the Memorial Day weekend event at Centennial Park West.
A graduate of Carl Sandburg High School and captain of the Minnesota Frost, Coyne Schofield returned to the southwest suburbs carrying an impressive list of accomplishments that includes two Olympic gold medals, seven world championships and two Walter Cup titles.
Residents waved flags and cheered as parade entries rolled through the streets Saturday morning, launching a daylong celebration filled with patriotic themes, music and community activities. Local organizations, community groups and decorated vehicles made their way along the parade route before crowds gathered inside Centennial Park West for the festival portion of the event.
Coyne Schofield’s appearance added a hometown connection to the festivities. In 2019, she became the first woman to compete in the NHL All-Star Skills Competition, further cementing her place as one of the most recognizable figures in women’s hockey.
Following the parade, families spread out across the park for children’s activities, food vendors and live entertainment that continued throughout the day. Festivalgoers also sampled ribs from 18 amateur cook-off contestants during the afternoon barbecue competition.
The celebration concluded with a fireworks and pyro-musical finale Saturday night, officially launching Orland Park’s yearlong series of events tied to America’s upcoming 250th birthday celebration.
