Northwest Fourth Fest goes back to its family roots for 2015

After bringing nationally touring musical acts like Smashmouth, Thompson Square and .38 Special to the Sears Centre Arena parking lot in recent years, Hoffman Estates' Northwest Fourth Fest is returning to its roots in 2015 with a focus on carnival rides, food and family fun.

In fact, the festival's final day - Sunday, July 5 - is being designated as "Family Fun Day," and will feature performances by Grammy-nominated children's entertainer Ralph Covert of Ralph's World and the always popular Jesse White Tumblers.

Other Family Fun Day events sure to be a hit with younger visitors include a Touch a Truck event, an animal exhibit, a zip-line, animal exhibit, pony rides, a roaming magician, and rubber chicken toss and water balloon toss contests.

The final day of the festival also will usher in a new event this year, the Golf Ball Drop Raffle. At 3 p.m. Sunday, the Hoffman Estates Fire Department's aerial ladder truck will be raised to the sky and numbered golf balls purchased by raffle entrants will be dropped onto a temporary green. The ball(s) in the hole or closest to it wins.

For $10 a ball, participants have a chance to win 20 percent of the total entry fees collected. The balance of the proceeds will be used to purchase safety equipment for Hoffman Estates firefighters.

Participants can purchase golf balls online at www.hoffmanestates.org, at village hall, or at the festival from 6 p.m. Friday until 1 p.m. Sunday.

While Northwest Fourth Fest - sponsored by Hoffman Estates, Hanover Township and the Hoffman Estates Park District - didn't sign up any nationally touring bands for this year's event, music will still be a big part of the fun, with a pair of suburban favorites leading the way Friday and Saturday night.

On Friday, popular rock band 7th heaven takes the main stage at 8:30 p.m. Sonic 7 will serve as the warm-up act, performing at 6:30 p.m.

On Saturday, July 4, Bobby Abrams, former guitarist and vocalist of The Buckinghams, and musical partner Mike Buccoleri, formerly of Herman and the Hermits, take the stage at 4:30 p.m. as Brock & Abrams. They'll be followed at 6 p.m. by The Fortunate Sons, a Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band, before headliners Infinity - one of the area's most popular classic rock tribute bands - takes the stage at 8:30 p.m.

Infinity's set will bracket what's being called the region's largest fireworks show. The state-of-the-art computerized fireworks display begins at 9:30 p.m. and is easily viewable from anywhere on the Sears Centre grounds. Parking is free, and there's space for 9,000 vehicles.

Northwest Fourth Fest kicks off Wednesday and Thursday with two days of carnival fun, from 6 to 10 p.m.

Food also will be a big part of the festivities, with several of the community's top eateries taking part. Among them: Blackhawk BBQ and Seafood,

Katie's Kakes, Moretti's Ristorante and Pizzeria, Taco Factory and El Monaguillo.

For information about the festival, visit www.northwestfourthfest.com, or call the Fourth of July hotline at (847) 252-5446.