Longtime public servant Jim Pilmer has been selected as Grand Marshal for the 2025 Montgomery Fest Parade, which will take place on Sunday, August 17. The announcement was made by the Montgomery Fest Committee.
Pilmer, who served as Executive Director of the Fox Valley Park District (FVPD) from November 2015 until his retirement in December 2023, has longstanding ties to Montgomery. On his first day as FVPD Executive Director in 2015, Pilmer met with Montgomery Mayor Matt Brolley. “People often think Fox Valley Park District is just Aurora, but the volume of what FVPD does in Montgomery is massive, especially with the Stuart Sports Complex located here,” Pilmer said.
The FVPD is one of Illinois’ largest park districts and serves communities including Aurora, North Aurora, and Montgomery. During his tenure, Pilmer led several capital investment projects such as The Barn at Blackberry Farm and The Wilds at Red Oak Nature Center. He also supported expanding trails and natural areas and played a role in revitalizing parks within Montgomery.
Pilmer’s involvement with Montgomery dates back to volunteering at the Village’s first Carp Derby in 1983. He was instrumental in securing an intergovernmental agreement that allowed the Village to manage improvements and maintenance at Montgomery Park while it remained under FVPD ownership.
As Grand Marshal, Pilmer will lead the parade along Main Street, Jefferson Street, and River Street before concluding at Village Hall.
His contributions include securing grant funding for park renovations and advocating for expanded regional connectivity through future pedestrian bridges and bike path extensions that improve access to local amenities like the Stuart Sports Complex.
Information about Montgomery Fest, scheduled for August 15-17, can be found on the official website: https://www.montgomeryil.org/.
