Mundelein Community Days begins July 3
If you're in the mood for a car show, a carnival, fireworks or a parade, head to Mundelein this weekend for the annual Community Days festival.
The party begins Thursday, July 3, and runs through Sunday, July 6.
Most events are at or near Kracklauer Park and the Santa Maria del Popolo Church Meadow, which are on Seymour Avenue at Courtland Street.
Mundelein Mayor Steve Lentz said he always looks forward to the festival's evening concerts.
"Good food and drink. Good people. Good music," Lentz said in an email to the Daily Herald. "It doesn't get much better than that."
Things kick off at noon Thursday with performances by a group of park district dancers and kids crafts.
Also at noon, the Mundelein Munch food court will open. It will be open every day for food and drinks.
The carnival will be open from 5 to 11 p.m. the first day. Hours will vary the rest of the festival.
Other highlights include:
• The McNulty Irish Dancers, who will perform at 1 p.m.
• Face painting from 1 to 4 p.m.
• Modern Day Romeos perform at 8 p.m.
Friday's activities start early at 8 a.m. with the Freedom Classic - a 5-kilometer run and a half-mile youth run.
Other highlights include:
• A 3 p.m. bags tournament.
• Bella Cain performing at 8:30 p.m.
• Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday's events begin at 9 a.m. with a pet parade. A car show begins at 9 a.m. too, and it runs until 1 p.m.
A patriotic celebration at the Fort Hill Heritage Museum is set for 10 a.m., and bingo will run from noon to 3 p.m.
Other highlights include:
• A 2 p.m. watermelon-eating contest.
• Mariachi music from 3 to 5 p.m.
• Pony rides from 3 to 7 p.m.
• A performance by Kashmir, at 8 p.m.
The festival concludes Sunday.
The day starts with a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11:30 a.m. A health expo is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon.
The day's centerpiece, however, is the parade down Hawley Street. It will begin at 2 p.m. and will feature dozens of floats, marchers and bands.
When asked about his favorite Community Days memory, Lentz recalled a water fight that broke out during one parade. It pitted residents with hoses against a fire truck, he said.
"The fire truck won," Lentz said.
Other Sunday highlights include:
• Kids crafts, from 2 to 7 p.m.
• A 4 p.m. juggling show.
• A 7 p.m. performance by Heartache Tonight.
For more information, call (847) 949-3223 or visit mundelein.org/mcd/.