Arlington Hts. Frontier Days starts July 4

Arlington Heights celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, and one of the best ways to get in the spirit is the Frontier Days Festival, which is only 37 years old.

In that time, the festival has become famous for free professional entertainment along with homegrown fun such as decorating contests for chairs and cakes and a pet parade.

It all starts with a parade at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 4. The parade follows Dunton Avenue south from Oakton Street to Miner Street, and from there heads east to the festival grounds at Recreation Park, 500 E. Miner St. The fest runs until American English quits singing at 10 p.m. Sunday, July 8.

And don't forget to Touch-a-Train on Saturday, July 7, and Sunday, July 8, when Union Pacific parks a locomotive at Heller Lumber, which can be reached by crossing the carnival midway.

Visit frontierdays.org for a schedule and more information about the events, and don't forget to volunteer so you can help out next year!