Sounds of excitement swirl around Lake Villa Days

Former firefighter Jim Aronson spun the wheel at the crowded Ham or Bacon booth before landing on the number 51 and a yell of glee came from the winner, Tara England of Ingleside, during the 83rd annual Lake Villa Days at Lehmann Park on Thursday night.

The festival, sponsored by the Lake Villa Firefighters Association, runs through Sunday, Aug. 7, and features carnival rides, food, bingo, live music and water fights.

"We ordered 5,000 pounds of ham and 2,000 pounds of bacon this year," said Ed Kofoed, treasurer of the Lake Villa Firefighters Association as he looked over to the Ham or Bacon booth. "The money goes toward charitable acts. During Thanksgiving, we donated last year to buy all the food baskets to the Lake Villa Food Pantry. The money also goes toward firefighter training, equipment and any type of memorial donations that we can make."

Music enthusiasts can listen to live entertainment featuring Bella Cain on Friday and Mike & Joe on Saturday nights from 9 until midnight.

Festivalgoers can watch firefighters from Lake, McHenry and Kenosha counties engage in water fights on Saturday at 5:30 p.m., with the local businessmen's and women's water fights on Sunday starting at noon.

The festival runs 6 p.m. to midnight on Friday, 3 p.m. to midnight on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information about Lake Villa Days, call the Lake Villa Fire Protection District at (847) 356-2992.