Grayslake’s Summer Days returns with music, parades

Grayslake’s annual summer celebration returns this weekend in the village’s historic downtown area.

Summer Days 2011 will run Friday, Aug. 19, and Saturday, Aug. 20, around Center Street and Seymour Avenue, west of Route 83.

One of the highlights will be the Saturday evening parade with the theme “Grayslake Summer Days — It’s Electric.”

Action will kick off at 5 p.m. Friday with food booths and carnival games opening. Bingo is scheduled to run from 7 to 10 p.m.

Music will include the band Henneberry at 8 p.m., followed by Bella Cain at 10 p.m.

The festival will resume at 10 a.m. Saturday with a craft fair, which is new to Summer Days. Food booths and carnival games will open to the public at 11 a.m.

Bingo aficionados will be able to get their fill Saturday because the tent for players will be open from 3 to 10 p.m.

Summer Days’ bicycle and pet parade will begin at noon Saturday on Slusser Street. The parade will proceed east on Park Avenue and then to Seymour Avenue, where it’ll end.

At 7 p.m. Saturday, the big parade will step off from Grayslake Central High School on Lake Street. It’ll move south to Center Street, then proceed east to the festival site at Seymour Avenue.

Saturday’s featured entertainment will be Rough House Blues Band on the main stage at 8:30 p.m., followed by 7th Heaven at 10:30 p.m.