advertisement

Buffalo Grove Days opens Thursday, continues through Labor Day

Buffalo Grove Days, the village's big annual festival with five days of carnival rides, food, fun and games, opens Thursday, Aug. 28, and runs through Labor Day.

The event, which also features three days of free music, an arts and crafts fair, business expo, barbecue challenge, parade and fireworks, among other activities, is preceded by the traditional softball charity game at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, in Emmerich Park's North Field.

Carnival hours for the festival, which is held on the four sides of the intersection of Lake-Cook Road and Raupp Boulevard, are 6 to10 p.m. Thursday, 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Ride tickets are $1.25 each, with $23 unlimited ride wristbands sold Thursday evening, Saturday afternoon and Monday afternoon, good for that day only. Information on other ticket deals is at bgdays.com. Credit cards are accepted for ride tickets, but not for food or games. The carnival is in the Emmerich Parking Lot.

The parade, at 1 p.m. Sunday, starts at Bernard Drive and Indian Hill, proceeds east on Bernard Drive to Raupp Boulevard, then turns north to St. Mary's Parkway. People are asked to bring nonperishable food items to donate to the food pantry.

A fireworks show is scheduled for 9:15 p.m. Sunday, visible from Main Stage, Rotary Village Green, Willow Stream Park and the Buffalo Grove Golf Course.

The arts and crafts fair has featured many crafters since its introduction more than 25 years ago, selling everything from handmade jewelry, candles and clothing for the entire family to clocks, baby blankets and table runners. It's along Raupp Boulevard in front of the village hall from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday.

The business fair is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and noon to 4 p.m. Monday.

In addition to numerous children's activities in specific areas, a variety of entertainers will be walking around the festival grounds afternoons Saturday through Monday. They include Petals the Clown, Elvis, Bob Hirsch Balloons, Malificent, Susan Hooper Stilts, Magic by Randy, "Frozen" Queen Elsa and Princess Anna, Sunshine the Clown, Cinderella, Prince Charming, Jason Kollum Stiltwalking, Ryan Freeman Balloons, Shadow the Mime, Snow White, Belle, Jason Kollum Juggling, Skates, Staley the Chicago Bear and Tommy Hawk.

The annual Food & Fun for Persons with Disabilities event takes place in the carnival area and food tent from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday. Registration is 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 each. Call (847) 808-5555, ext. 3, to register, or email IAMMSS@comcast.net.

The disabilities event was organized by the Buffalo Grove Days Committee and the Commission for Residents with Disabilities. Carnival rides are courtesy of North American Midway Entertainment. The event also includes lunch, a magic show, and appearances by Skates, Staley the Chicago Bear and Tommy Hawk.

New this year is the Disability Resource Fair, featuring a variety of resource providers, including Canine Companions for Independence, NWSRA/Buddy Baseball, Special Olympics, The Kids Equipment Network (TKEN) and AYSO VIP Program (Buddy Soccer).

There is no general parking available at the festival site. Parking is available at Willow Stream Park, Buffalo Grove Golf Center, Buffalo Grove Fitness Center, Mike Rylko Community Park, Buffalo Grove Town Center, Plaza at Buffalo Grove, Buffalo Grove High School south parking lot, Federal Express Building, and PNC Bank.

Shuttle buses run to the parking lots from 6:30 p.m. to midnight Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Monday; and 7 a.m. to midnight Sunday. Handicap parking is available on-site at the Village Bar & Grill for vehicles displaying proper permits. An on-site shuttle will be available to assist persons with disabilities within the festival grounds.

More information, including maps of the festival grounds and the shuttle routes, is at bdgays.com.

Musical Entertainment Schedule

FRIDAY

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Cool Rockin' Daddies, Main Stage

6:30 to 8 p.m. Piano Bar with Andrew Blendermann, Beer Garden

9 to 10:30 p.m. Modern Day Romeos, Main Stage

10:30 p.m. to midnight One Night Band, Beer Garden

SATURDAY

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Buffalo Grove Park District Big Deal Productions "Big Deal Highlight Show," Main Stage

2:30 to 3:15 p.m. Nicholas Barron, Beer Garden

2:45 to 3:30 p.m. Reverie Dance Companies, Main Stage

4 to 5:15 p.m. Ben Tatar and the Tatar Tots, Beer Garden

5:30 to 7 p.m. Tanglewood, Beer Garden

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Stellar Road, Main Stage

9 to 10:30 p.m. Parachute, Main Stage

10:30 p.m. to midnight Mystriss, Beer Garden

SUNDAY

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. The Terry & Greg Spizzirri Duo, Beer Garden

4:15 to 5:15 p.m. Acoustic Generation, Beer Garden

6 to 7:30 p.m. Industrial Drive, Beer Garden

7:30 to 9:15 p.m. Arra, Main Stage

8 to 9:15 p.m. The Terry & Greg Spizzirri Duo, Rotary Village Green

9:45 p.m. to midnight Prairie Station, Beer Garden

Buffalo Grove Days Schedule

THURSDAY

6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Bingo, Food Tent

7 p.m. Bags Tournament, Beer Garden

5 to 11 p.m. Beer Garden open

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

FRIDAY

5 to 11 p.m. Food Tent open

5 p.m. to midnight Beer Garden open

SATURDAY

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Blood Drive in Alcott Center

9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Disc Golf Tournament, Willow Stream Park & Twin Creeks Park

11 a.m. Dog Show at Mike Rylko Community Park Spray and Play

Noon to 11 p.m. Food Tent open

Noon to midnight Beer Garden open

Noon to 5 p.m. Kids Crafts Activities, Kids Crafts Tent

12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Rockin' Family Game Show! Craft Area

1 to 5 p.m. BBQ Challenge (judging begins at 2:30 p.m.), Football Field

1 to 6 p.m. Blood Drive, Alcott Center

1 to 1:30 p.m. Jack the Magic Man, Kids Crafts Tent

1 to 4 p.m. WSCR 670-AM, Football Field

1:45 to 2:30 p.m. Karaoke with Karen, Kids Crafts Tent

2 to 4 p.m. Margi Charalab-facepainting, Kids Crafts Tent

2 to 2:30 p.m. Pocket Circus, Craft Area

3 to 3:30 p.m. Chuck Field Ventriloquism, Kids Crafts Tent

3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Barefoot Hawaiians, Craft Area

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

SUNDAY

7:30 a.m. Buffalo Grove Stampede 5k/10k Race, Mike Rylko Community Park

8 to 11 a.m. Pancake Breakfast sponsored by Rotary Club of Buffalo Grove in the Food Tent

Noon to 10 p.m. Food Tent open

Noon to midnight Beer Garden open

1 to 5 p.m. Kids Crafts Activities, Kids Crafts Tent

2 to 4 p.m. Margi Charalab face-painting, Kids Crafts Tent

2 to 4 p.m. WSCR 670-AM, Football Field

2:15 to 2:45 p.m. Allegra Mexicana, Craft Area

2:30 to 3 p.m. Dave's Traveling Reptile Show, Kids Crafts Tent

3:15 to 3:45 p.m. Soaring Eagle Kung Fu, Craft Area

3:45 to 4:15 p.m. Jason Kollum Juggling Show, Kids Crafts Tent

4 to 4:30 p.m. Kristina's School of Dance, Craft Area

4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Mr. Kipley Puppets, Kids Crafts Tent

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

MONDAY

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

1:30 to 2 p.m. Kristina's School of Dance, Craft Area

1:30 to 2 p.m. Rotary Rubber Duck Race to Public Works, parking area between Food Tent and Info Booth, buy ducks in person or at www.bgrotary.org/duckrace

Kids enjoy the rides at Buffalo Grove Days. The festival begins Thursday evening and continues through Labor Day. Daily Herald Photo September 2006
  People enjoy the Cliff Hanger ride at a previous Buffalo Grove Days, held around the intersection of Lake-Cook Road and Raupp Boulevard. This year's rides include the Ferris wheel, fun slide, carousel, Himalaya, Tornado, Wacky Mouse, Starship Gravitron, and, for the little ones, Berry-Go-Round, Construction Zone and Cycle Jump. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com September 2007
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.