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Frontier Days expands to six nights this year

With the Fourth of July falling in the middle of the week this year, one of the most popular festivals in the Northwest suburbs is changing its schedule.

Traditionally, Frontier Days in Arlington Heights runs five days leading up to the July Fourth holiday. This year, organizers opted to open the festival on Friday, June 29, and run it through Wednesday, July 4.

As always, the festival, now in its 43rd year, features a packed lineup of popular bands, Arlington Heights restaurant specialties, an arts and crafts fair, family entertainment, and games and competitions each day for all ages. Admission remains free, as is the entertainment.

On Monday, July 2, only the carnival rides will be open at a reduced price of $15 per wristband. However, there will be no entertainment or food tent open.

"This is the first year we've tried this," says Carmella Lowth, co-chair of the festival with Pat Peery, both of Arlington Heights. "It's so hard when the Fourth falls on a Wednesday. We really want to be open for the entire weekend and not have to miss a Friday night."

What started as a community festival designed to reflect the country's bicentennial celebration has become one of the largest festivals in Chicago's suburbs - and the most enduring.

Continuity is a big part of the festival's success. Organizers know to keep much of the scheduled games and activities the same, since families build their summers around the fest.

"It always amazes us to see how many families come back to Arlington Heights and plan their vacation around the festival," Lowth says. "Whether they grew up in Arlington Heights or want to bring their children back, it never fails to draw generations of families."

Both Lowth and Peery are veterans running the festival. In fact, this is the third time that Peery will have served as a co-chair of the event. She and her husband, Bill Peery, who heads up the entertainment committee, have volunteered at the fest for 37 years.

"It's just a special feeling watching families come back and neighbors getting together," Peery says. "Just seeing the joy on their faces draws me back year after year."

Both co-chairs say that, over the years, the festival has striven to offer interactive entertainment, especially for children and teens.

In fact, each day a different challenge awaits them, from soccer, volleyball, baggo and spikeball tournaments, to water fights, hockey skills on the tennis court and dog Frisbee. There literally is something for everyone, they say.

Younger children will enjoy the live entertainment on the Family Fun Stage. Each day features a full lineup ranging from Dave's Traveling World of Reptiles and meeting the Arlington Heights Police Department's police dog unit, to BMX performers, Ben's Bubble Show and the Conscious Circus.

New this year is the all-you-can-eat wings contest, sponsored by the Rack House Restaurant, taking place at 1 p.m. Saturday. Two more food contests come back on Wednesday, with the pie eating contest, sponsored by Jewel, and the ribs eating challenge, sponsored by Sweet Baby Ray's in Elk Grove Village.

Mainstage entertainment

Excitement over this year's lineup of bands was palpable on Memorial Day when the schedule first came out to those gathered along the parade route.

Leading off this year is actor Dennis Quaid and the Sharks, who take the stage at 8 p.m. Friday, June 29.

"He brings star power to our lineup, but he's a talented musician in his own right," Bill Peery says. "He writes his own music, and actually was in music before he started acting."

The BoDeans, the popular rock band from Waukesha, Wisconsin, take the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 30, and they are creating quite a buzz of excitement, Peery says.

"We've been trying to get them for two years, but the dates never worked out," Peery says. "We're thrilled to get them this year and think they'll really pack the place."

Lonestar, a country rock band that originated in Nashville, takes the stage at 8 p.m. July 1. Peery says this is the band's second appearance at the festival, and his committee brought them back due to popular demand.

Tonic, which performs at 8 p.m. July 3, has two Grammy nominations and its members are still recording new music.

"There are lots of bands that are still touring and playing their hits," Peery says, "but this band is still making new music and they have a big following."

American English closes the main stage, as it does nearly every year, at 7:30 p.m. July 4. This popular Beatles tribute band recreates such classics as "She Loves You" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand," all the way through Sgt. Pepper and the Magical Mystery Tour and the White Album.

"We're excited about our lineup this year," Peery says. "We go out of our way to provide first-rate music for free. Of course, we hope people buy some food and go on the rides while they're here to enjoy the bands."

July Fourth Parade

Festival volunteers also book the more than 100 units each year in the Arlington Heights July Fourth parade. This year's edition steps off at 10 a.m. at Oakton Street and Dunton Avenue and heads south on Dunton, before turning east on Miner Street toward the festival.

Thousands of people line the two-mile parade route, with as many as 10 people deep at some points along the way.

Carmella Lowth not only serves as co-chair of the entire festival, she returns to head up the parade committee of five other volunteers. Their work has not gone unnoticed. Last year, the Arlington Heights parade was voted No. 1 in the Daily Herald's Readers' Choice Award.

"That's something we're really proud of," Lowth says.

What makes the parade so popular is its entertainment value. Consider all of these musical groups already booked: the marching bands from Buffalo Grove, Prospect, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling high schools, as well as the Prairie Brass Band, Arlington Heights Community Band and the Hornets, a drum and bugle corps from Chicago.

The Pipes & Drums of Clan McAlpine return this year, along with Banjo Buddies and the clown band Chuck-A-Roo and the Memories.

Novelty acts range from the Medieval Times horses and Sam the Wheeler - an acrobat who performs while riding a 10-foot high wheeler bicycle - to the Jessie White Tumblers, who come near the end of the parade and perform afterward on the tennis courts at the festival.

Main food pavilion

Multiple food options await families. Of special note are the Taste of Arlington specialties, including Mexican dishes from Grande Jake's Mexican grill, barbecued and hickory smoked sandwiches from the Rack House, ribs and brisket from Sweet Baby Ray's, as well as chicken sandwiches from Chick-fil-A and chicken cordon bleu and Philly steak sandwiches from HOME Bar Chicago.

Traditional festival offerings, including burgers, Italian beef and pizza will be available in chuck wagon locations near the carnival and the beer tent.

To top it off, the festival's dessert row features blizzard ice cream treats, an assortment of pies, ice cream and funnel cakes.

Carnival rides

Jeff Blomsness, CEO of North American Midway Entertainment, returns with an array of rides and games to entertain the entire family.

Advance online purchase of ride bracelets will cost $25 and buyers will save $5 per bracelet if ordered before June 29. At the park, bracelets will cost $30. To purchase, visit www.FrontierDays.org.

The midway at Frontier Days includes 20 rides, including a mix of thrill rides and family attractions, as well as the iconic, 110-foot, giant Ferris wheel, which offers patrons a panoramic view of the festival and downtown Arlington Heights.

  Teens enjoy the ride Speed at Frontier Days. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com July 2016
  A child celebrated riding a motorcycle during Frontier Days in Arlington Heights. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com July 2015
  The giant Ferris wheel with its great views is one of the attractions at Frontier Days at Recreation Park in Arlington Heights. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com June 2017
  Faith Wright, 10, of Arlington Heights walks across the stage with Barkley, a golden retriever, in the pet parade during Frontier Days at Recreation Park in Arlington Heights. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com July 2017
  Kids emerge from the ride the Fear Factory with Sidney Keith of Wheeling at Frontier Days. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com June 2016
  The Rolling Meadows High School flag team marches with the band during the Arlington Heights Fourth of July parade. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com July 2017

<p>If you go</p>

What: Arlington Heights Frontier Days Festival 2018

When: 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 29; noon to midnight Saturday, June 30; noon to 11 p.m. Sunday, July 1; 5 to 11 p.m. Monday, July 2 (carnival only, no food or entertainment); 5 p.m. to midnight Tuesday, July 3; noon to 10 p.m. Wednesday, July 4

Where: Recreation Park, 500 E. Miner St., Arlington Heights

Admission: Free

Details: <a href="http://www.frontierdays.org">www.frontierdays.org</a>

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