Buffalo Grove Days goes Hollywood

Buffalo Grove Days 2012 opens Wednesday with the annual charity softball game and closes Monday with the Rotary duck race, and in between is five full days of food, rides, music (including Casey Abrams from “American Idol,” and Jamie Lono from “The Voice”), games, arts and crafts, instructional classes by the police, a business expo, parade, fireworks and much, much more.

The annual Labor Day festival is held at the four corners of Lake-Cook Road and Raupp Boulevard.

There is no general parking at the fest site, but park at the following places and take the shuttle bus: Willow Stream Park; Buffalo Grove Golf Center; Buffalo Grove Fitness Center; Mike Rylko Community Park; Buffalo Grove Town Center (shuttle stops at north and south ends); Plaza at Buffalo Grove; Buffalo Grove High School south parking lot; Federal Express Building and National City Bank. No pets allowed and smoking allowed only in designated areas.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 29

6:30 p.m. Annual Softball Charity Game at Emmerich Park, North Field

THURSDAY, AUG. 30

6-10 p.m. Carnival rides ($23 wristbands for unlimited rides), Emmerich parking lot

6:30-10:30 p.m. Bingo, Food Tent. Sponsored by Rotary Club of Buffalo Grove.

7:30 p.m. Baggo Team Tournament, Beer Garden

5-11 p.m. Beer Garden open

6-10:30 p.m. Food Tent open

FRIDAY, AUG. 31

5-11 p.m. Food Tent open

5 p.m.-midnight. Beer Garden open

6-11 p.m. Carnival rides, Emmerich parking lot

6-7:30 p.m. Piano Bar with Andrew Blendermann, Beer Garden

7:30-8:15 p.m. Jamie Lono (“The Voice”), Main Stage

9-10:30 p.m. 7th Heaven, Main Stage

10:30 p.m.-midnight. The band Midnight, Beer Garden

SATURDAY, SEPT. 1

8 a.m.-1 p.m. Blood Drive, Alcott Center

9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Disc Golf Tournament, at Willow Stream Park & Twin Creeks Park. Presented by the Buffalo Grove Park District.

11 a.m.-6 p.m. Arts & Crafts Fair, in front of Village Hall.

11 a.m. Dog Show, Willow Stream Park North. Presented by Buffalo Grove Park District.

11 a.m.-7 p.m. Business Fair, northeast corner of Raupp Blvd. and Lake-Cook Road. Presented by Buffalo Grove Area Chamber of Commerce.

Noon-11 p.m. Food Tent open

Noon-midnight. Beer Garden open

Noon-11 p.m. Carnival rides ($23 wristbands for unlimited rides until 5 p.m.), Emmerich parking lot

Noon-5 p.m. Kids crafts, Kids & Crafts Area

1-5 p.m. BBQ Challenge, football field. Sponsored by Dorfler’s Meat Market; judging begins 2:30 p.m.

1-6 p.m. Blood Drive, Raupp Blvd. & Church Street.

1-7 p.m. Walkaround entertainment, featuring Elvis, Bob Hirsch Balloons, Magic by Randy, Sunshine the Clown, Jason Kollum Stiltwalking, Lucy, Austin Powers, Libby Green Stilts, Ryan Freeman Balloons

1:45-2:30 p.m. Steve Beno Kids Songs, Kids & Crafts Area

2-4 p.m. Margi Charalab facepainting, Kids & Crafts Area

2-6 p.m. Traffic Safety Booth, Raupp & Church. Presented by the Buffalo Grove Police.

2:30-3:15 p.m. Reverie Dance Companies, Main Stage

2:30-3 p.m. Alegria Mexicana, craft area.

2:30-3:15 p.m. The 4 a.m. Quartet, Beer Garden

3:30-4:15 p.m. Barefoot Hawaiians, craft area

3-3:30 p.m. Magic by Jack Gordon, Kids & Crafts Area

4 p.m. CRD Buddy Baseball Exhibition Game, Kendrigan Field at Twin Creeks Park

4-4:30 p.m. Songs with Sharon, Kids & Crafts Area

4-5:15 p.m. Uncle Zesty, Beer Garden

4:30-5 p.m. Sunny U Dance Group, Craft Area

5:30-7 p.m. Whitey O’Day, Beer Garden

7:30-8:30 p.m. Cool Rocking Daddies (hits of the 50s to the 90s), Main Stage

9:15-10:30 p.m. Little River Band (original classic hits), Main Stage

10:30 p.m.-midnight. The Fairlanes, Beer Garden

SUNDAY, SEPT. 2

8 a.m. Buffalo Grove Stampede; 5k/10k Race, Mike Rylko Community Park

8-11 a.m. Pancake Breakfast, Food Tent. Sponsored by Rotary Club of Buffalo Grove.

11 a.m.-6 p.m. Arts & Crafts Fair, in front of Village Hall

11 a.m.-7 p.m. Business Fair, northeast corner of Raupp Blvd. and Lake-Cook Road. Presented by Buffalo Grove Area Chamber of Commerce.\

Noon-11 p.m. Food Tent open

Noon-midnight. Beer Garden open

Noon-11 p.m. Carnival rides, Emmerich Parking Lot

1 p.m. BG Days parade. Starts at Bernard Drive & Indian Hill, east on Bernard Drive to Raupp Boulevard, north to St. Mary’s Parkway. Includes Food Drive for local food pantries — please bring nonperishable food items and sundries (no glass please).

1-5 p.m. Kids Crafts Activities, Kids & Crafts Area.

2-4 p.m. Margi Charalab facepainting, Kids & Crafts Area

2:15-2:45 p.m. Pocket Circus, Craft Area

2:30-3 p.m. Dave’s Traveling Reptile Show, Kids & Crafts Area

2:30-3:30 p.m. The Steel Drum Guy, Beer Garden

2-7 p.m. Walkaround entertainment, featuring Pirate, Petals the Clown, Bob Hirsch Balloons, Magic by Randy, Shadow the Mime, Jason Kollum Stiltwalking, Lucy, Austin Powers, Libby Green Stilts, Ryan Freeman Balloons.

3-3:45 p.m. McNulty Irish Dancers, Craft Area

3:30-5:30 p.m. Child Safety Seat Check, police department.

3:45-4:15 p.m. Jason Kollum Juggling Show, Kids & Crafts Area

4-4:30 p.m. Kristina’s School of Dance, Craft Area

4:15-5:15 p.m. Industrial Drive, Beer Garden

4:30-6 p.m. Karaoke with Karen, Kids & Crafts Area

4:45-5:15 p.m. Natraj Dance Academy, Craft Area

6-7:30 p.m. Dan Whitaker & The Shinebenders, Beer Garden

7-7:45 p.m. Casey Abrams (“American Idol” Season 10), Main Stage

8-9:15 p.m. ARRA (classic rock covers), Main Stage

8-9:15 p.m. Hutch, Rotary Village Green

9:15 p.m. Fireworks. Visible from Main Stage, Rotary Village Green, Willow Stream Park, BG Golf Course.

9:45 p.m. Midnight Rumble Tone Blues Band, Beer Garden

MONDAY, SEPT. 3

10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Food & Fun for Persons with Disabilities, in Carnival Area and Food Tent. Preregistration required; attendance is limited to the person with a disability and no more than four immediate family members or caregiver living in the same household; additional people are $10 per person — call (847) 808-5555, ext. 4. Carnival rides courtesy of North American Midway Entertainment. Appearances by Skates, Staley the Chicago Bear, Benny the Bull, and Tommy Hawk are scheduled. 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Music presented by Personalities Inc.; 2:30-3 p.m. Magic Show presented by Magic by Randy.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Arts & Crafts Fair, in front of Village Hall

Noon-4 p.m. Business Fair, northeast corner of Raupp Blvd. and Lake-Cook Road. Presented by Buffalo Grove Area Chamber of Commerce.

12:30-4 p.m. Food Tent open

12:30-6:30 p.m. Carnival rides ($23 wristbands for unlimited rides), Emmerich parking lot

1-3 p.m. Walkaround entertainment, featuring Skates, Staley the Chicago Bear, Benny the Bull, Tommy Hawk, Pirate, Jason Kollum Stilts, Magic by Randy.

1:30-2 p.m. U.S. Elite Martial Arts, Craft Area

1:30-2 p.m. Rotary Duck Race, Emmerich Park East. For information and to buy ducks, visit BGRotary.org.