East Dundee takes a bigger role in Heritage Fest

Last year, Fox Valley residents had a taste of what a cooperative Heritage Fest could be like. This year, they will receive a full eight-course dinner.

With East Dundee taking more of an active role, the three-day festival, which starts Friday, Sept. 12, will be full of international food, more regional and local entertainment and history lessons.

"Last year, we were a part of Heritage Fest, but we didn't really have enough time to do everything we wanted," said East Dundee Village President Lael Miller.

As it has for more than a decade, West Dundee did the lion's share of the planning and hosting of the fireworks display, the food and crafts booths and entertainment for Heritage Fest in their village last year.

East Dundee leaders hosted carnival rides, some musical entertainment and a few crafts booths. This year, the list of events on the east side of the river will be more than doubled.

"We're thrilled with East Dundee's increased participation," said West Dundee Village Manager Joseph Cavallaro. "It will make Heritage Fest a stronger and more appealing festival."

Carnival rides will begin twirling and spinning at 5 p.m. Friday on Water Street in East Dundee. Food vendors on both sides of the Fox River will begin serving an hour later.

In West Dundee, 11 food vendors will begin selling Mexican, Chinese and Greek food; and in East Dundee at the North River Street Depot, the Deutsch Fest tent will open for business. In it, Immanuel Lutheran Church volunteers will sell German food they have cooked.

German immigrants played an important role in settling East and West Dundee. Reminding current residents of their village roots is a natural for an event called Heritage Fest, Miller said.

Other ethnic foods will be cooked and sold at the Depot during the three days of festivities.

The annual fireworks display will be ignited at 8 p.m. on Friday on the footbridge over the Fox River. That bridge connects the two villages, and during the weekend, it will be an important passage for revelers who want to browse among the 93 craft booths along Washington Street in West Dundee or walk through the business expo or farmers markets in East Dundee.

Many of the events in West Dundee will be staged behind the West Main Street shops. The main stage for regional entertainment will be there as well as food booths and those holding information from local nonprofit groups.

Grafelman Park, along Route 72 in West Dundee, will be the scene of an antique fair and games for children.

"Many of these events are what people have come to expect at Heritage Fest," said Kim Tibbetts, a West Dundee employee and one of the leading organizers. "We'll have the community breakfast on Sunday morning cooked by members of the Lions Club and many events for families."

East Dundee's focus will be the same, but on a regional and historical level, Miller said.

"All of the entertainment, food and other events we have planned will enhance Heritage Fest," Miller said. "There will be no competition. West Dundee will still have the main stage with regional musical entertainment. We'll showcase local entertainers. West Dundee will still offer a variety of food; we will have an ethnic spin on ours.

"I'm glad East Dundee is participating more in Heritage Fest. For years, people have asked why we don't do more. West Dundee does it all. Now, we're taking a bigger role in it."

Both villages are still looking for volunteers to help during the festival. Call the West Dundee village hall at (847) 551-3800 or the East Dundee village hall at (847) 426-2822.

For a complete list of events, visit wdundeeheritagefest.org/

If you go

What: Heritage Fest

When: 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 (carnival only); 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14

Where: Downtown East and West Dundee; see festival website for locations

Admission: free

Parking: Park at Spring Hill Mall, Routes 31 and 72, and take the free shuttle, which makes continuous rounds between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday to various stops along the festival grounds. Street parking may be available on the residential streets surrounding the festival and in the public parking lots that remain open during Heritage Fest.

Details: <a href="http://www.wdundeeheritagefest.org">wdundeeheritagefest.org</a>