Odd Fellows festival rocks with music

Dark threatening clouds and a hint of bad weather couldn't keep Renko family away from the third annual Odd Fellows festival in Carpentersville Saturday.

"We kept checking the weather and checking the weather, before we came out," Said Mark Renko of Lake in the Hills, while watching his 2-year-old daughter Aubrey enjoy a carnival ride. "We have been trying to get out to a lot of festivals this summer."

Seven bands, with styles including rock, blues, jazz and country, were scheduled to the stage during the weekend's Odd Fellows Rock the Fox Music Festival, which wraps up Sunday at Carpenter Park in Carpentersville.

The festival is sponsored by Century Lodge 492, a fraternal organization that is part of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

The lodge has been in Carpentersville for 116 years and works to help anyone in the community that is in need, as well as to support local organizations and provide scholarships.

The music festival is the only fundraiser the lodge has for this year.

"We have a good relationship with the community, and we were trying to find a fundraiser that would be fun but also be charitable to the community," Century Lodge member Bob Andry said.

"It's a celebration of music and summer and a celebration for everyone to come together. Music has always been a big part of celebrating," Lodge member Jeremy Soderstrom added.

The festival opens at 1 p.m. Sunday. For information, visit the Odd Fellows Rock the Fox Music Fest Facebook page.