Mundelein Community Days opens for the holiday weekend
The new Miss Mundelein, Karsen Sample, danced on the lawn with her little sister, Spencer, and cousin Emma Welle as the band Samadhi Vibe played on the big stage Thursday, the opening day of Mundelein Community Days.
The festival slate Thursday offered carnival rides, foods from area restaurants, musical acts, children's crafts, fire truck rides and the introduction of the Mundelein pageant queens.
"It looks like we are going to have perfect weather, and I am expecting a huge crowd over the next four days," said Community Days Commissioner Gary Gunther. "We have the car show on the Santa Maria parking lot on Saturday. On the Fourth, we will have the fireworks that people can view at Kracklauer Park."
Friday's lineup features Arts Demo Day, tae kwon do demonstrations and music.
Saturday, the Fourth of July, begins with the Mundelein Pak District's Freedom Classic 5k run and 1/2-mile youth run. Events include the pet parade, car show, a horseshoe tournament for seniors, a watermelon-eating contest, a bags tournament and a jalapeño-eating contest. Fireworks will cap off the fun at 9:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the Mundelein Fire Department will hold a pancake breakfast in the morning, and the Community Days parade will step off at 2 p.m. It will move along Hawley Street from the village hall to Mundelein High School. This year's parade is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Mundelein Fire Department.
For the full schedule of the festival, go to www.mundelein.org/MCD.