Anything goes at Venetian Night in Fox Lake
It's time for the 10th annual Venetian Night in Fox Lake. Originally scheduled for Aug. 5, the event was moved to Saturday, Aug. 26.
The theme for this year's parade of boats is "Anything Goes on the Chain!" and organizers are encouraging creativity by allowing participants to choose the theme they want when decorating their entries, with cash prizes awarded to the top three participants.
A "prize" all entrants receive is pier parking at Dockers Restaurant & Lounge for the grand fireworks finale.
Participants can decorate their boats to celebrate a favorite song, sports team, special holiday, accomplishment, anniversary or anything else; the sky is the limit and there are no wrong answers. (However, participants are asked to keep it rated "PG" for this family-friendly event.)
"After talking with boaters and participants, we realized that while all excellent, their ideas of themes varied greatly," said Chris Valenziano, Venetian Night chairwoman and lifelong resident of the community.
"Having been at the helm of this event since the inception in 2008, we decided to let everyone choose their own theme to celebrate 10 years of fun, and cannot wait to see all the ideas come to fruition."
Boats will be judged on lighting, creativity, costumes and decorations. Winners will be announced just before the fireworks finale, with first place receiving $500, second place receiving $300 and third place $200. Boaters can register for $25 at the Fox Lake village hall; advanced registration is preferred.
The celebratory parade will set sail at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Pistakee Lake, starting in front of Famous Freddie's Roadhouse, 510 S. Park Ave., and proceeding to Dockers Restaurant & Lounge, 33 W. Grand Ave.
The event will be in full force until midnight, with DJ entertainment, dancing in the street, and a variety of food and beverages available from vendors. Dockers Restaurant will also be taking reservations.
A highlight of the night will be the fireworks finale at dusk over Pistakee Lake. A free shuttle will be offered for the event from 6-10 p.m. from the following locations: Millennium Park, Lakefront Park, the village hall, Community Center, and Metra parking lots. Parking at these locations is complimentary for this event.
"Our 10th Venetian Night is truly something to celebrate," Valenziano said. "When you strip it all down, the labor of love that is Venetian Night is done with community in mind.
"During the actual event, I look around and take it all in. I look across the water and see the boats, and I look on the land and I see all of these wonderful people celebrating, and I look in the sky and see all of those fireworks and think, 'we did it!' And year after year, it's all worth it."
Venetian Night is an event for the whole family, though parental guidance is advised during the later hours. The event is supported by many organizations, including: Dockers Restaurant, Grant Township staff, and many community members and friends.
For details, email foxlakevenetiannight@yahoo.com or call Chris Valenziano, (847) 587-2253.