Roselle's Rose Festival returns for 55th year
Anyone wondering where the Roselle Lions are during the first week of June need look no further than the village's Metra station.
Volunteer ticket-takers and beer servers from the Lions Club will be out in force as the organizers behind the annual Rose Festival that runs from June 4-7 at the corner of Irving Park Road and Maple Avenue.
"This is our 55th year," festival Chairman Bob Jilke said.
Jilke said he joined the Lions in 1981 and has served as Rose Festival chairman for at least the past 25 years.
This year's four-day fest features music, games, carnival rides, bingo, a car show, business exhibitors and food.
Ever hanker for a pork chop on a stick? The Rose Festival will offer those this year, Jilke said. Other new food vendors will be cooking up Mexican barbecue, Italian beef and Italian sausage, he said.
Beer fans can rejoice. The old standby brands will be available, along with a newcomer.
"This year we're going to have a craft beer," said Jilke, adding that the featured brew is by "Revolution."
Jilke said Saturday night headliners Howard and the White Boys, a longtime Rose Festival favorite, are set to perform at 8 p.m. Saturday.
"They have been our Saturday night band for probably 10 years. People enjoy them immensely. They do a good job for us, so we keep bringing them back," he said.
Musical entertainment kicks off with an 8 p.m. Thursday performance by Woogie, followed by a show featuring ARRA Classic Rock at 8 p.m. Friday. The Saturday lineup also includes a 4 p.m. performance by Living Out Loud. Lava Rock will take the stage at 4 p.m. Sunday.
Weather does sometimes impact the festival, said Jilke, but musical entertainment in the beer garden will go on, rain or shine.
Jilke said the classic car show will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday across the street from the Metra station at Wickstrom Chevrolet, 555 E. Irving Park Road.
There's no admission fee for the festival, said Lions Club President Rich Leabru. Carnival ride specials include a 10-ride ticket available for $15 on Thursday only and an all-you-can-ride wristband available from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Leabru said the nonprofit club donates proceeds from the festival, one of the club's main fundraising events.
"Our main ambition is to raise funds for the blind and hearing-impaired," he said.
The Roselle Rose Festival's long-standing tradition of bringing the community together for warm weather fun is one many families look forward to each year.
"It's a nice family thing," said Leabru.
The Roselle Chamber of Commerce will present the 56th Annual Rose Parade at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 7. The parade ends at the corner of Irving Park Road and Lawrence Avenue, just a block from the festival site.