Fundraising efforts for Algonquin festival

After the annual Algonquin Founders’ Days Festival was rained out last summer, organizers are trying to beef up their funds to present a great festival in July.

Two fundraising events are planned in May, said Jeff

Krajewski, president of Algonquin Founders’ Days Committee. “We don’t strive to make a profit, we strive to put up a nice festival,” he said.

The first event, the 9th annual Founders’ Bowl, is scheduled for Saturday, May 14, at Brunswick Zone, 2075 E. Algonquin Road, Algonquin. Dinner will take place at 7 p.m., followed by candlelight bowling at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and are available at the offices of the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce, 2114 W. Algonquin Road, Lake in the Hills, or by calling (847) 658-5300.

Then, the North American Midway Entertainment Carnival will set up shop Wednesday, May 18, through Sunday, May 22, in the parking lot of The Great Escape, 2421 S. Randall Road, Algonquin. Hours will be 6 to 10 p.m. May 18 and 19, 6 to 11 p.m. May 20, 1 to 11 p.m. May 21 and 1 to 9 p.m. May 22.

The plan is to have about 10 rides for “kids, teens and the adults who still get the carnival excitement,” Krajewski said. Tickets will cost $1.25 each, and carnival food like cotton candy and caramel corn will be available for purchase.

The Algonquin Founders’ Days Committee and the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Jaycees, both nonprofits, are the organizations behind the annual summer festival, whose total cost is about $120,000, Krajewski said.

The festival will kick off Thursday, July 28, at Towne Park in downtown, and for the first time will host the Illinois Battle of the Bands, Krajewski said. The event ends with fireworks the evening of Sunday, July 31.