RotaryFest, Hometown Parade rock Elk Grove Village this weekend
RotaryFest began Wednesday night in Elk Grove Village with live music, carnival rides and plenty of food.
The festival runs through Sunday, June 17, at Rotary Green, 164 Lions Drive, Elk Grove Village.
Festival hours are 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, 2 p.m. to midnight Saturday and 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, and free parking is available at Elk Grove High School.
Highlights of this year's fest include a car show from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Elk Grove High School and fireworks beginning around 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
Bands include Exit 147 and Rob Tuffcurls & The Bench Press on Friday; Mr. Myers, Hillbilly Rockstarz and 16 Candles on Saturday; and Stagger and The Fortunate Sons on Sunday.
Carnival rides, with daily specials ranging from $20 to $30 for unlimited rides during certain hours, include Zero Gravity, Century Wheel, Super Shot, Tornado and Matterhorn. Dads ride free from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Father's Day, with a paid child during the unlimited ride special.
Hometown Parade
Elk Grove's annual Hometown Parade takes place at 2 p.m. Saturday starting at Tonne Road, marching along Elk Grove Boulevard to Lions Drive, with the theme "Music Through the Ages."
Elvis will make an appearance and sing at the parade this year. The Elk Grove High School Marching Band will perform, along with high school bands from Oregon and Proviso West. Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps will also be marching. Several dance groups will entertain.
This year's grand marshal is Kitty Vanderweel Weiner, who has been active in the community her whole life. She spearheaded last year's fundraiser to build a much-needed elevator for the Elk Grove Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9284, organizing the raffle to win a new Corvette. More than $175,000 was raised and the elevator should be ready for use this summer.
She has also served as president of the Elk Grove Rotary Club, is a member of the Community Character Coalition and is on the board of the Plan Commission.
New this year is a canned food drive during the parade to help Elk Grove's Food Pantry serve families in need. Volunteers will collect donations.
There will be team mascots, Those Funny Little People, Medinah Black Horse Troop, youth groups, community organization, and The Village People, aka the Village Board, candy for the kids, and more.
For festival information, visit www.elkgroverotaryfest.com.