Elgin's iFest will have Olympic theme Saturday

This year's iFest in Elgin will have an Olympic theme and - unlike the athletes who vied for gold in Rio this summer - all participating kids will get a medal.

The free outdoor festival, whose moniker stands for "International Fest," takes place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, on Riverside Drive Promenade along the Fox River in downtown Elgin.

World cultures will be showcased via ethnic cuisine, music and entertainment, children's activities, a "world market" and cultural arts and crafts.

There will be an inflatable "bouncy house" with an obstacle course, and all the kids who give it a try will get a medal, said Barb Keselica, the city's special events and community engagement manager. Kids also can have fun coloring a variety of world flags, she said.

The food area this year will be staged in a parking lot on the south end of Riverside Drive Promenade by Festival Park. The "Hot Grills" car show organized by nearby Grand Victoria Casino, 250 S. Grove Ave., will take place from 1:30 to 7 p.m. the same day.

"Everyone that goes to the car show will be able to see and smell the food, and hopefully stop by," Keselica said.

Also, the location of the food vendors will make it easier for people to park and get food to go, she added.

The city organized the event in conjunction with the iFest committee and the nonprofit group City of Peace.

The festival was borne out of the city's decision to stop co-sponsoring a variety of cultural events and instead consolidate them into one, all-inclusive event.

The city's budget for iFest is $40,000, out of which at least $12,000 is being covered by sponsorships, Keselica said.

For details, you can visit elginifest.org or facebook.com/elginifest.