Five-day festival opens in Buffalo Grove
Buffalo Grove Days returns Thursday for its annual five-day run, featuring a carnival, craft and business fairs, parade and fireworks, barbecue challenge, free main stage entertainment and other activities. Full details are at www.bgdays.com.
The festival, held in the area around Raupp Boulevard and Lake-Cook Road, is one of the last big ones of the summer in the Northwest suburbs, competing with Schaumburg's Septemberfest, which opens Saturday.
Thursday night's activities, which run from 5 to 11 p.m., include the carnival, beer and food tents, a bags tournament at 7 p.m. and bingo from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
On Friday night, the musical entertainment kicks in, beginning with Andrew Blenderman with a piano bar experience at 6:30 p.m. in the beer garden. One Night Band will open the Main Stage at 7:30 p.m. with a diverse repertoire of top 40 hits from the last six decades.
Big name cover band Mike & Joe goes on stage at 9 p.m. with favorites from the '90s and modern rock/alternative tunes. Cowboy Jukebox will perform country music in the beer garden from 10:30 p.m. until midnight.
On Saturday, Main Stage entertainment opens at 1:30 p.m. with the "Big Deal Highlight Show" presented by Buffalo Grove Park District Big Deal Productions. At 2:45 p.m. there is an all-new event - the "Frozen" Princess Revue stage show featuring Disney characters such as Belle, Cinderella, Snow White, Prince Charming, "Frozen" Queen Elsa and Princess Anna.
The beer garden opens at 2:30 p.m. with the Robbie Gold Band, a local singer/writer who has opened for national acts. Martini Lunch performs at 3:45 p.m. playing swing, Latin bossa and classic '50s cocktail music. At 5:30 p.m., Bemhos, a party band, plays.
The Main Stage reopens at 7:30 p.m. with the Cuban sounds of Los Perros Cubanos and their Latin beat. Lighting up the stage at 9 p.m. is the weekend headliner, Infinity, a Journey tribute band. At the beer tent at 10:30 p.m., local favorite Mystriss, a classic rock cover band, plays.
On Sunday, the beer garden will open at 2:30 p.m. with The Terry & Greg Spizzirri Duo playing classic rock oldies, current hits, originals and some Irish music. Join Buffalo Grove's Phil and Mark Jacobson as The Shades at 4:15 p.m. in the beer garden, with rock and pop, folk, soul and R&B. Industrial Drive is at 6 p.m. with its eclectic mix of rock music.
The Main Stage opens at 7:30 p.m. with The Blooze Brothers playing music from the '40s to today, swing, Motown, soul, R&B, classic rock, and the music and antics of the Blues Brothers. They'll play until the fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
Meanwhile, at the Rotary Green, The Terry & Greg Spizzirri Duo return to play at 8 p.m. Following the fireworks, the beer garden will host UFC Band from 9:45 p.m. to midnight covering pop, alternative, metal, dance and classic rock from the '70s to today.
On Monday, as every year, the Buffalo Grove Days Committee and the Commission for Residents with Disabilities team up to present the Fun & Food Program for people with disabilities and their immediate families.
It runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the carnival area and food tent. Advance registration is required; attendance is limited to the person with a disability and no more than four family members or caregivers living in the same household; additional people are $10. To register, email marasabath@gmail.com.
Carnival rides are courtesy of North American Midway Entertainment.
The day also will include the second annual disability resource fair with exhibits by a variety of service providers.
Carnival ride tickets are $1.25, $25 for 22 tickets or $60 for 55 tickets. Unlimited ride wristbands are $23 Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon; $25 Monday afternoon.
For kids, there is a crafts area open from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and a kids entertainment stage featuring a variety of acts. Walkaround entertainment Saturday through Monday afternoons will include a magic act, clown, balloon artists, stiltwalker, juggler, mime, Disney and other movie characters, and sports team mascots.
Food vendors Friday through Sunday include Brothers BBQ, Culver's of Buffalo Grove, Dorfler's Meat Market, JD's Smokehouse, Jersey Mike's Subs, Kay's Funnel Cakes, Lou Malnati's Pizza, Oishii Thai, Prairie House Tavern, Taco Factory, Tasty Spin, Village Bar & Grill and Wa-Pa-Ghetti's, along with nonprofits such as Scout troops and service clubs.
Penguino's Pizza will provide food Thursday night and Monday, as will Swirl Cafe on Thursday night only.
The Arts & Crafts Fair along Raupp Boulevard, in front of the village hall, is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday. The Business Fair is11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and noon to 4 p.m. Monday.
There is no general parking at the festival site. Handicap parking is available at the police department/Village Bar & Grill with a valid handicap permit. A shuttle will be available to assist persons with disabilities within the festival grounds.
There is shuttle service to and from the festival until midnight each day from general parking at Willow Stream Park, Buffalo Grove Golf Center, Buffalo Grove Fitness Center, Mike Rylko Community Park, Buffalo Grove Town Center, Plaza at Buffalo Grove, Buffalo Grove High School and the Federal Express Building.
Festival highlights
THURSDAY
6 to10 p.m.: Carnival
6:30 to 10:30 p.m.: Bingo
7 p.m.: Bags Tournament
FRIDAY
6 to 11 p.m.: Carnival
SATURDAY
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Blood Drive
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Disc Golf Tournament
11 a.m.: Dog Show
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Arts & Crafts Fair
11 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Business Fair
1 to 11 p.m.: Carnival
1 to 5 p.m.: Barbecue Challenge, judging starts at 2:30 p.m.
4 p.m.: CRD Buddy Baseball Exhibition Game
SUNDAY
7:30 a.m.: Buffalo Grove Stampede 5k/10k
8 to 11 a.m.: Pancake Breakfast
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Arts & Crafts Fair
11 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Business Fair
1 to 11 p.m.: Carnival
1 p.m.: Parade, from Indian Hill, goes east on Bernard Drive to Raupp Boulevard, then north to St. Mary's Parkway, with former village President Jeff Braiman as grand marshal
9:15 p.m.: Fireworks
MONDAY
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Food & Fun for Persons with Disabilities
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Arts & Crafts Fair
Noon to 4 p.m.: Business Fair
12:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Carnival
1:30 p.m.: Rotary Rubber Duck Race
Main Stage acts
FRIDAY
7:30 to 8:30 p.m.: One Night Band
9 to 10:30 p.m.: Mike & Joe
SATURDAY
1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Big Deal Productions "Big Deal Highlight Show"
2:45 to 3:30 p.m.: "Frozen" Princess Show
7:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Los Perros Cubanos
9 to 10:30 p.m.: Infinity
SUNDAY
7:30 to 9:15 p.m.: Blooze Brothers