Buffalo Grove Days' move a big success, organizer says

Buffalo Grove Days' move to a new location this year is being hailed as a big success by the annual festival's organizers.

The 2016 edition of the fest was moved to Mike Rylko Community Park from its traditional location at Lake-Cook Road and Raupp Boulevard because of safety concerns related to construction (that's since been delayed) along Lake-Cook Road.

Buffalo Grove Days Committee Co-Chair Paulette Greenberg said the new venue worked well as the festival grounds.

"The openness really had a festival atmosphere that was missing at the cramped former location" on the village campus, Greenberg told the village board this week.

The main issue, she said, was parking - a new issue since there had never been on-site parking in the former location.

"Suddenly, with 300 spaces available, we had hundreds of cars trying to get one of those spots," Greenberg said.

Carnival sales were just under $243,000, compared to $224,000 the a year ago, she said.

One thing remains constant and will not change - the parade on Bernard Drive.