South Elgin Riverfest features 'Special Night' for kids with disabilities
A "Special Night for Special Kids" is set to open South Elgin's 19th annual Riverfest Express Wednesday.
Children with various disabilities will be able to experience a free, assisted adventure into the carnival from 6 to 9 p.m. at Panton Mill Park.
"These kids don't feel different," said Kim Sipple, a South Elgin resident whose son, Danny, has spina bifida. "I think anybody out there should come down on 'Special Night' and watch these kids. It's an amazing community event."
The night will also feature the new playground in SEBA park along the Fox River, which is designed specifically for people with disabilities.
"My son is 27 now and I wish we had the park when he was 3. It's amazing," Sipple said.
In 2011, the South Elgin Parks and Recreation Department applied for a grant to create an inclusive playground through the Shane's Inspiration Foundation, which has created 56 accessible parks across the world with 75 more in development.
The village received financial assistance for architectural development, for playground construction and landscaping.
The new park has completed phase one of construction, which includes a wheelchair-accessible sensory tube, swings and a tree house. A second phase is expected to include a sand and water table as well as a separate play area for kids 2 to 5.
"It's a new feature that just happens to be near the festival site," said Kim Wascher, superintendent of the South Elgin Parks and Recreation Department. "For anyone who wants to come down and play in it or utilize the park, it's here during the festival."
Sipple has also volunteered for Riverfest all 19 years, bringing her son along each time.
Now, Danny Sipple guards the space between the beer tent and carnival while Kim Sipple brings a group of therapy dogs for people to interact with.
"The thing that's really neat is watching these kids who maybe have never seen or can't get a dog, to watch their faces," Sipple said. "Anything I can do to make it better for these kids is amazing."
The festival is open Thursday through Sunday. Other activities include a craft show from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, a climbing wall brought by the U.S. Army, a car show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday and a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
The car show has a new location, on the east side of the Fox River (across from the Ferris wheel) near Tredup's and Mary's Corner Tap. Registration for the show is 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The awards ceremony starts at 3:30 p.m. Call Mike Konwinski at (847) 895-0032 or John Pullaro at (847) 275-8290 about the show.
The festival features a number of new music acts, including Mike and Joe, 7th Heaven, and Hillbilly Rockstarz, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, respectively.
For more information, visit www.riverfestexpress.net.