FESTIVAL ROUNDUP
"Traditional" and "creative" describe the range of festival offerings from Illinois
park districts and forest preserves. From smelt fests to pumpkin fests,
here's a look at some of the best festivals in the state!
According to the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), festivals are a popular way for travelers to experience new and interesting cultures. TIA's 1999 Travel Poll found that one-fifth of adults in the United States (21%) attended a festival while on a trip away from home in 1999. This translates to 31 million U.S. adults.
One-third of festival travelers (33%) attended a music festival, making it the most popular type of festival to attend while traveling. Twnety- two percent of the festival travelers attended an ethnic, folk or heritage festival. This was followed by county or state fairs (20%), parades (19%), food festivals (12%), and religious festivals (11%).
Doc Haznow's Chili Open
Golf Tournament
Crystal Lake Park District
Main Beach
January 28, 2000 (attendance: 2,000)
At this annual event, started in 1970, two 9-hole, par 32 courses are plowed on the frozen
waters of Crystal Lake. Holes are marked with
"recycled" Christmas trees. Golfers of all ages
from across Illinois participate and enjoy free,
hot chili after their round. Participants build
and decorate golf sleds to haul their clubs,
grills and coolers around the frozen course.
On the
frozen waters of Crystal Lake,
here's a scene from
Doc Haznow's Chili Open
Golf Tournament, the
Crystal Lake Park District's
answer to cabin fever.
Smelt Fest
Park District of Highland Park
Park Avenue Beach
April 28, 2000 (attendance: 300)
Annually since 1991, the Park
District of Highland Park sets up
several dip nets along the lakefront
for people to experience catching
and cleaning smelt fish. The district
fires-up the grill and cooks what's
caught. Musical entertainment is on
hand. It's a great free event for all ages and not
many people know what a smelt fish is, but when they leave this event they have no question.
Smelt Fest,
sponsored by the Park
District of Highland Park
and Breadsmith of
Highland Park, maximizes
smelt season in late-April
September/October 2000 / 31
S P E C I A L F O C U S
Railroad Daze in
Franklin Park, "the Needle
Eye" of the railroad,
dedicates two full days of
train rides and displays For
train-lovers of all ages.
Railroad Daze
Franklin Park Park District
Downtown Franklin Park Railroad Crossing
May 19-20, 2000 (attendance: 1,200+)
Trains from all over the country come to
Franklin Park for two days each year since
1996. Visitors tour the parked trains. There's
live entertainment, food, train memorabilia,
children's activities and a variety of booths.
But trains are what make this event so unique.
Everyone both young and old have some
fascination with these huge machines.
Franklin Park is known as the "needle eye" of
the railroad.
Skokie Festival of Cultures
Skokie Park District
Oakton Park
May 20-21, 2000 (attendance 30,000)
A trip around the world! Ethnic food, global
entertainment, ethnic arts and crafts, camel
rides, children's activities. This annual event
(since 1991) has grassroots planning with
committee of 70+ volunteers representing
more than 20 cultural groups. (See photo
collage on page 16.)
Heritage Festival
Round Lake Area Park District
Harts Woods
May 27-28, 2000 (2,500 in 1999)
Annually since 1996, this festival features
people from days past in period dress,
demonstrating and sharing their lifestyles and
cultures. This sharing of knowledge is called
"first person interpretive history." History
comes alive with settler families, children's
trading post, games and crafts, and storytellers.
Cream of Wheaton
Wheaton Park District
Memorial Park
June 3, 2000 (attendance: 12,000)
Over its history since 1981, the festival has
drawn more families than any event in the
area. Its nature reflects the family-oriented
community of Wheaton. The event includes a
Run for the Animals 5K/10K race. country
breakfast, arts and crafts fair, Cosley Petting
Zoo, carnival rides, daylong entertainment,
Taste of the Western Suburbs, plus Teen Night
the previous evening.
2000 Fest: A Multicultural
Block Party
Northbrook Park District
Village Green Park
June 9-10, 2000 (attendance: 2,500+)
The festival provides the opportunity for
people to learn more about their neighbors
and develop an appreciation for their
differences and helped to unify the community. Participants enjoy roaming entertainers,
an international food village, world games
area, international crafts, Hoffman's Kingdom
of Animals, inflatable games, face painting and
exhibits in the World Market Place Show and
Sell tent. (See photographs on the cover of this
issue of Illinois Parks & Recreation.)
The Will County Forest Preserve's Island Rendezvous is
devoted to the fur trade that existed between
Native Americans and French-Canadian Voyageurs 250 years ago.
Island Rendezvous
Will County Forest Preserve District
Isle a la Cache Museum
June 10-11,2000 (2,500 both days)
The Island Rendezvous features a little-known
period of Midwestern history. For nearly 200
years, traders from Canada penetrated the
interior of the continent to barter for beaver
pelts, which were greatly prized in Europe.
These interactions were among the first
between whites and Native Americans and
resulted in an exchange of cultures. By
informing the public about this part of our
heritage the Island Rendezvous bridges a gap
of 250 years. Visitors can walk through a
voyager encampment, experience a tomahawk
throw, black-powder musket demonstration,
and canoe race, and enjoy ongoing period
music and children's activities.
Jubilee
Woodridge Park District
Center Drive and Woodridge Drive
June 14-18, 2000 (20,000-25,000)
Annually since 1984, this fun festival features
a carnival, musical entertainment, bingo, food
and beverages, children's activities and
socializing with friends and neighbors. Each
year thousands of coupons are dropped from a
helicopter and kids race to retrieve coupons to
be redeemed for prizes donated from local
businesses. A Fishing Derby encourages all
ages to come out for fun and to win some
great prizes for catching the largest fish.
32 / Illinois Parks and Recreation
PrairieFest
Oswegoland Park District
June 15-18, 2000 (attendance: 30,000)
The Oswegoland Park District, along with
more than 100 business sponsors, community
organizations, youth groups and government
agencies pull together to pull off one of the
best hometown festivals around, annually since
1989. Oswego is the second fastest-growing
community in the state of Illinois and
PrairieFest organizers work very hard to
Maintain the small-town, hometown feel of
Photo at top: One reason the Oswegoland Park District's Prairie
Fest is so successful is its 100-plus sponsors for this two-day
family affair. Photo at bottom: Artwork created by Chris Camp
of Duo Design for the brochure for the 34th Annual International
Carrillion Festival of the Springfield Park District.
Morton Grove Days
July 4th Festival
Morton Grove Park District
Harrer Park, American Legion Memorial
Civic Center
June 30-July 4, 2000 (attendance 15,000)
This five-day celebration is filled with live
entertainment, food, beer
garden, cash raffle drawing,
parade, fireworks and carnival
rides and games. The festival is
one of the best in the area
because it is the only festival,
during this holiday, that covers
a township which includes five
suburbs.
Patriots In The Park
Granite City Park District
Wilson Park
July 1-4, 2000 (attendance: 30,000)
Started in 1997, the Patriots
In The Park celebration has
become the second most
popular Independence Day
event in the St. Louis area
(second only to Fair St. Louis).
It is a wholesome, alcoholic-free, family-oriented event with a salute to our country
while the sky is filled with red, white and blue
explosions of fireworks and music.
Waukegan Heritage Festival
Waukegan Park District
Bowen Park
July 2, 2000 (attendance: 6,000-8,000)
Held annually since 1990, this festival is
family-oriented, offering food and drink for
purchase and everything else for free (e.g., a
20-species petting zoo, camel and lama rides,
arts and crafts, music from the main stage or
the children's with talent from all over).
International Carillon Festival
Springfield Park District
Washington Park
July 2-7, 2000 (attendance: 14,500)
Internationally known artists from around the
world play carillon recitals each evening. This
year, the festival's 39th annual event, festival-
goers heard music from 13 different countries
with carillonneurs featured in both the
competition and the festival.
Independence Day Festival
Channahon Park District
Community Park
July 4, 2000 (attendance: 10,000)
Held annually since 1983, this community-oriented festival starts at 9:00 a.m. with a fun
run event and a brunch in the park, plus
activities throughout the day for all ages and a
band and fireworks in the evening. The intent
of this festival is not to be a large attraction
with carnival rides and the like, but rather an
opportunity for the community to gather for a
day of fun with "picnic-type" fun games for
all.
Sounds of Summer
Urbana Park District
Crystal Lake Park
July 7-8; 14-15, 2000 (21,500-23,500)
Annual since 1998, this festival features
fantastic live music highlighting the rich and
diverse talent of local performers as well as
national headliners. Free arts activities enrich
the festival experience, particularly for families
and children with the Chalk It Up program,
the Sounds of Summer Sculpture contest and
the Free Kid's Only Art Studio tent. This
event has a long history including both title
and format changes, but it's always been
regarded as the city's premiere music festival,
with high-caliber music brought to the city's
best park.
Terry Moran Family Day and
Softball Tournament
Rolling Meadows Park District
Kimball Hill Park
July 15, 2000 (attendance: 3,500)
This annual event, started in 1994, is a 16-inch softball tournament with 40 men's teams
and six women's teams with family activities,
food vending, musical entertainment,
children's games and activities. The festival was
started by a family who wanted to honor the
untimely death of a loved one. His participation in softball and love for his family was
celebrated through the development of this
event. Family members, friends and team
members came together with donations and
volunteer hours. The event has netted $72,000
in the six years of existence and the money has
all been donated to The Juvenile Diabetes
Foundation.
(continued on page 34)
September/October 2000 / 33
S P E C I A L F O C U S
Irish Fest
Arlington Heights Park District
Arlington Heights Historical Museum
July 16, 2000 (attendance: 2,000)
Started in 1999, the annual Irish Fest
celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the
Emerald Isles. Visitors experience traditional
and contemporary Irish music and dance,
learn about Irish history and culture through
displays and demonstrations, and can purchase
authentic Irish food and merchandise. The fest
showcases local and regional talent, but has
also attracted nationally known acts.
Autumn Pioneer Festival
Boone County Conservation District Festival
Grounds in Belvidere
September 23-24, 2000 (11,000 in 1999)
Offered free since 1981, the festival involves
re-enactment, demonstrations and interpretations of lifestyles and crafts of the early 1800s
(pre-1830). It portrays a family, hometown
atmosphere including authentic food, family
activities and demonstrative-period clothing,
authentic log cabins, food court. Native
American village.
Apple Festival
Wildwood Park District
Rule Park
September 30, 2000 (1,800 in 1999)
Apple Festival is a yearly "thank you" to the
residents of Wildwood for passing the
referendum that allowed the park district to
acquire its home park and offices. The active
role of numerous community groups and park
district volunteers makes this event very
special and very successful. Apple Festival's
family-oriented themes, free entertainment
and games, and its serene location on Gages
Lake is what makes Apple Festival the best in
the community.
The Grove Folk Fest
Glenview Park District
The Grove National Historic Landmark
October 1, 2000 (2,000 in 1998)
The Grove Folk Fest, annually since 1979,
brings together all that The Grove National
Historic Landmark has to offer: a natural
setting with forest, plants, wetlands and an
abundance of animals who live in this
ecologically rich nature preserve, architectural
structures which are representative of Grove
settlers, the Interpretive Center which houses
scientific specimens, educational classes, and
an assortment of live animals and aviary. The
event features pioneer skill and craft demonstrations, nature walks, square dancing,
continuous live folk music, handmade gift and
craft items for sale, outdoor dining on hearty
food, and tours of historic Grove homes.
Photo: Pioneer skills and craft demonstrations take place in early
October at The Grove Folk Fest held at The Grove National
Historic Landmark in Glenview.
Danoda Fall Festival
DuPage County Forest Preserve
Danada Forest Preserve, Wheaton
October 8, 2000 (14,000 in 1999)
The term "A Celebration of the Horse" best
describes the Danada Fall Festival. Visitors to
this annual event can see riding and horse-breed demonstrations, and learn about horse
care, feeding, grooming, shoeing and tack. A
drill team of the Danada Equestrian Center's
volunteers and horses performs a synchronize
musical routine. Everyone can enjoy the
Danada grounds while taking in some folk
music and fall foods. This free event gives
thousands of DuPage County residents a
chance to learn something new about horses,
regardless of their knowledge level. For those
interested in simply spending a pleasant fall
afternoon, the event is equally enjoyable.
Scarecrow Festival
St. Charles Park District
Downtown area and Lincoln and
Pottawatomie Parks
October 13-15, 2000 (100,000+ in 1999)
Scarecrow Festival is a nationally known event
celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2000.
Lincoln Park offers a free family festival with
live entertainment. Families may view over
100 truly whimsical scarecrow displays, make
their own scarecrow, and vote for their
favorite. Children will enjoy special activities
and a carnival. In Pottawatomie Park,
approximately 200 crafters offer their items at
the famous juried Autumn on the Fox Art &
Craft Show along the scenic Fox River. This
festival was awarded one of the Top 100
Events in North America for 2000 by the
American Bus Association. (See cover photo.)
Pumpkinfest
Streamwood Park District
Hoosier Grove Park
October 14, 2000 (1.000+ in 1999)
Hoosier Grove Park was once the home to the
Landmeier pumpkin farm in Streamwood.
The Landmeier family would sell their
pumpkins along Irving Park Road each fall. In
1988 when the park district purchased the
farm and the Landmeier's moved further west,
the district decided to uphold the pumpkin
tradition. Each year the park district purchases
pumpkins from the Landmeier family and sells
them along Irving Park Road just as their
family used to because this site is traditionally
known for pumpkins. Other events: Pumpkin
carving contest (all ages), pumpkin decorating,
kiddie run, pumpkin lunch, pumpkin
moonwalk, hay rides, pumpkin pie eating
contest, fall family portraits and more. •
ILLINOIS PARKS & RECREATION
magazine thanks all agencies that responded to its survey of the
BEST festivals. All entries submitted were printed unless the festival is
a first-time event that has yet to take place in 2000.
34 / Illinois Parks and Recreation