From ribs to monster truck, DuPage County has a fest for it
Ribs. Monster trucks. Hot air balloons. You name it, and there's a good chance DuPage County has a festival built around it.
Here's a rundown of some of our most prominent and best-known fests to look forward to in 2015.
Naperville Ribfest
Naperville's Ribfest takes its barbecue seriously: 12 rib vendors from across the nation and 18 other food vendors hawked their wares at last year's event, which was attended by 20,000 people daily.
Here are some meaty statistics: Vendors sold roughly 5,000 pounds of ribs, 6,900 pounds of beef brisket and 1,278 pounds of pork butt at the 2013 festival.
This year's festival - set to take place July 2-5 in Knoch Park - has been voted best festival in the Midwest more than once by the Illinois Festival Association. It also offers carnival rides, other kid-friendly entertainment and an array of musical acts. Last year's headliners included BoDeans, Love and Theft, George Thorogood, Blue Oyster Cult and Foghat.
Eyes to the Skies
Other festivals may offer roller coasters or pony rides and other standard fare, but this Lisle festival gives visitors the chance to catch a ride on a tethered hot air balloon.
Guests who are afraid of heights can watch the fleet of colorful balloons hover in the sky.
"Eyes" also provides a craft fair, fireworks, a carnival and live bands.
Last year, guests could have listened to 20 bands, seen fireworks for three straight nights and eaten from 31 food tents.
The balloons at this year's fest will take off July 2-4, but the carnival runs from July 1-5.
Last Fling
It's a Sept. 4-7 festival that allows locals to end their summer with a blast of entertainment.
Sponsored by the Naperville Jaycees, proceeds go toward local nonprofits. The festival traditionally offers food, carnival rides, concerts and a Labor Day parade.
Guests also have enjoyed pie-eating and other food contests, bed races, a dunk tank, dog activities, and Naper Settlement's Family Fun Land, which offered crafts, singalongs, face-painting and bounce houses.
DuPage County Fair
How many festivals offer monster truck shows, rodeo cowboys, wine and beer tastings, donkey racing, an exhibit with lions and tigers and boatloads of food?
It may not all be traditional, but those were among the offerings last year at the DuPage County Fair.
The annual county fair will be July 22-26 at the fairgrounds on Manchester Road in Wheaton.
Glendale Heights
A classic summer festival, it comes complete with two fireworks shows, carnival rides, loads of live musical acts and food.
Last year's musical lineup included 7th Heaven and Infinity.
The festival, which will run July 8-12 this year, also hosts an American Idol-like contest for residents to show off their singing talents.
Mechanical bull rides have also been a unique feature, with all proceeds from the attraction going toward building a permanent food pantry for Family in Faith Christian Church in Glendale Heights.
Lilac Time
Lombard rings in spring with the scent of lilacs.
Events have included the Little Lady Lilac Ball for dads and their young daughters, a craft fair, a mutt strut, beer and wine tastings and the annual Lilac Parade.
"But it's all centered around the different kinds of lilacs that will be in bloom there," DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Beth Marchetti said.
"They have a tremendous amount of tulips. So it's a really great garden walk in Lilacia Park."
This year's fest will start early May, with the parade on May 17, officials said.
DuPage festivals
Lilac Time in Lombard
Date: early May
The flowery festival dedicated to the lilac village includes a Lilac Parade and the naming of the Lilac Queen.
Naperville Ribfest
Date: July 2-5
The finger-licking festival combines loads of rib and food vendors with live entertainment, carnival rides and more sauce than you can imagine.
Lisle's Eyes to the Skies
Date: Carnival July 1-5; festival July 2-4
Hop on a ride on a hot-air balloon at this Lisle festival, which also promises food, live music and a carnival.
Glendale Heights Fest
Date: July 8-12
A classic summer festival offering two nights of fireworks, carnival rides, a singing competition and even mechanical bull rides.
DuPage County Fair
Date: July 22-26
Live on a farm for a day at the DuPage County Fair, where you can find all sorts of animals, loads of food, carnival rides and unique activities like demolition derbies.
Naperville Last Fling
Date: Sept. 4-7
Last Fling is Naperville's final festival goodbye to summer, promising more carnival rides and food for guests to enjoy. All proceeds from the festival go to local nonprofits.