Frontier Days opens Thursday for 40th year

The Arlington Heights Frontier Days festival opens Thursday for the 40th year, at Recreation Park, 500 E. Miner St. With three entertainment stages, food and drink booths, a big carnival, games, competitions and more, this festival is the biggest regional Fourth of July festival in the Northwest suburbs.

For details, visit www.frontierdays.org.

Festival schedule

Thursday

Festival hours: 5-11 p.m.

5-11 p.m. Carnival rides (bargain rides all night)

5-6:30 p.m. Baseball/Softball Skills; pitching, hitting base running at Hickory Street baseball field. Ages 6-12.

5:30-8 p.m. Dog Frisbee Catch & Fetch, Meyer baseball outfield. Registration, 5:30 p.m.; competition, 6:15 p.m. One dog per owner. Info: nwirth@ahpd.org.

7:45 p.m. Frontier Days Scholarship Awards, Main Stage.

8 p.m. MAIN STAGE - Semple Band featuring Keith Semple. '70s rock; covers of Beatles, Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson; plus originals.

9:30-10:45 p.m. Sealed With a Kiss, Frontier Stage

11 p.m. Park closes.

Friday

Festival hours: 5 p.m.-midnight

3:30-5:30 p.m. Teen Battle of the Bands. Registration closed.

4:30-7 p.m. Baggo Tournament, Meyer baseball field. Registration closed June 26.

5 p.m.-midnight. Carnival rides (bargain rides all night)

5-6:30 p.m. Hockey Skills

5-8 p.m. Pony Rides ($5), Petting Zoo

5:30 p.m. Beer Garden opens.

6-7:45 p.m. Signs of Life, Frontier Stage

8 p.m. MAIN STAGE - Plain White T's. Had megahit "Hey there, Delilah;" plays summery anthems and acoustic love songs.

9:45-11:45 p.m. Catfight, Frontier Stage

Midnight. Park closes

Saturday

Festival hours: Noon-midnight

8:30-7 p.m. 3v3 Soccer Tournament, Miner School fields. Registration closed June 22.

10 a.m.-1 p.m. Citizens with Disabilities Day. Registration deadline June 28.

10 a.m.-7 p.m. Arts & Crafts marketplace

10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Teen Volleyball Tournament. Register by July 1.

Noon-midnight. Carnival rides (bargain rides, noon-6 p.m.)

Noon-12:45 p.m. Acrobatic Hula-Hooping, Family Fun Stage

Noon-1 p.m. Aqua Challenge at pool.

Noon-2 p.m. Pottery Fun, kids & adults

Noon-6 p.m. Pony Rides ($5), Petting Zoo.

1-2 p.m. BMX Biker Matt Wilhelm, 2-time national champion. Tennis courts.

1-4 p.m. Face Painting, Family Fun Stage.

2-3 p.m. K-9 unit demonstration with dogs and handlers. Family Fun Stage.

2-4 p.m. Ultimate Frisbee, Hickory Street fields. Register at 2 p.m.; games at 2:30 p.m.

3-5:30 p.m. Just Hang It Up, distracted driving simulator, Family Fun Area.

3:30-4:30 p.m. Steve Belliveau Science Magic, Family Fun Stage.

5-5:30 p.m. Rib Eating Contest, groups ages 12-17 and 18 and older. Check-in at 4:45 p.m., Family Fun Stage.

6-7:45 p.m. Bucket #6, Frontier Stage

8 p.m. MAIN STAGE, The Wallflowers, alternative rock band in its 26th year, sold more than 7 million records. "One Headlight," "Difference, "6th Avenue Heartache."

9:45-11:45 p.m. ARRA, Frontier Stage

Midnight. Park closes.

Sunday

Festival hours: Noon-midnight

7:30 a.m. Frontier Days Stampede Run, 5K & 10K runs, 5K walk and Kids Dash. Sign up at frontierdays.org; register at 6:15 a.m. on race day.

9 a.m.-4 p.m. 3v3 Soccer, Miner School fields.

10 a.m.-noon. Pet Parade. Register at 10 a.m. at Family Fun Stage; parade at 10:30 a.m.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Arts & Crafts Marketplace

Noon-midnight. Carnival rides (bargain rides, noon-6 p.m.)

Noon-3 p.m. Decorated Hat Contest, bring decorated hat to Family Fun Area by noon, judging at 2 p.m. Info: Derek Mach, (847) 368-5232.

Noon-4 p.m. Adult Volleyball Tournament, Meyer baseball field. Register at 11 a.m. Must be 19 to play; teams have 6-10 players.

Noon-4 p.m. Bingo, Frontier Stage. Card sales start at noon.

Noon-6 p.m. Pony Rides ($5) & Petting Zoo

12:30-1:30 p.m. Hersey High School Orchesis, Family Fun Stage. Performing and teaching steps.

1-2 p.m. Decorated Cake Contest; bring cake to Family Fun Area by 1 p.m., judging at 1:30 p.m. Theme: Fourth of July

1-4 p.m. Face Painting, Family Fun Stage

2-2:30 p.m. Buttons the Clown magic show, Family Fun Stage.

2-4:30 p.m. Water fights, Haddow & Miner streets. Register 1-2 p.m.; fights at 2 p.m.

3-4 p.m. Dave's Traveling World of Reptiles, Family Fun Stage.

4:30-5:30 p.m. Harper College Steel Drum Band, Family Fun Area.

5:45-7:30 p.m. Dr. Flint and the Voodoo Rummies, Frontier Stage

8 p.m. MAIN STAGE - Here Come the Mummies, 8-piece funk-rock band. "Terrifying Funk From beyond the Grave."

9:45-11:45 p.m. Exit 147, Frontier Stage

Midnight. Park closes.

Monday

Festival hours: Noon-10 p.m.

10 a.m. Arlington Heights Fourth of July parade. From Oakton/Dunton to Miner to Recreation Park. Refrain from reserving space on the parkways until 7 p.m. July 3. No tarps.

10 a.m. Decorated Bike Parade. Children ages 4-12 can ride in the big parade. Check-in at Oakton/Highland. No Big Wheels.

Noon-10 p.m. Carnival rides (bargain rides noon-6 p.m.)

Noon-4 p.m. Bingo, Frontier Stage. Must be 18 and older to play. Card sales begin at noon.

Noon-6 p.m. Pony Rides ($5), Petting Zoo.

12:30-1 p.m. Jesse White Tumblers, tennis courts

1-2 p.m. Ben's Bubble Show, Family Fun Area.

1-4 p.m. Face Painting, Family Fun Stage.

2-3 p.m. Pie Eating Contest, ages 10-adult, Family Fun Area. Register at 1:30 p.m.

3-4 p.m. David's Dinosaur Show, Family Fun Stage.

4-5 p.m. Exotic Animal Encounter, Family Fun Stage.

5:30-7 p.m. Second Time Around, Frontier Stage

7:30 p.m. MAIN STAGE - American English. Beatles tribute band is a Frontier Days favorite.

10 p.m. Festival closes for 2016.

Getting around Frontier Days

Parking: Use downtown Arlington Heights and take a free shuttle to and from Recreation Park. See <a href="http://www.frontierdays.org/forms/Frontier%20Days_Event%20Guide_2016.pdf">www.frontierdays.org/forms/Frontier%20Days_Event%20Guide_2016.pdf</a> for the shuttle route and schedule.

Fest admission: Free.

Pets: Not allowed except for the dog frisbee contest and the July 4 pet parade.

Allowed: Blankets, lawn chairs.

Not allowed: Coolers, outside food and drinks; plastic tarps, bricks and rocks.