Two-day Summerfest takes spotlight in Villa Park

For more than 15 years, Villa Park's Summerfest has provided an opportunity for the community to come together for a day of live music, children's games and local arts and food.

And though the festival has new organizers, this year will be no different.

"It's kind of like the community has a large block party," said Mikie Kudelas, program supervisor with the Villa Park Parks and Recreation Department, which is organizing the event this year. "It's a fun thing to look forward to every year."

Summerfest runs from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 15, and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, June 16, at Ardmore Avenue and Park Boulevard, next to the Illinois Prairie Path. Street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood.

The party opens Friday with a car show featuring about 75 vehicles from area clubs.

Opening night also will include a single-elimination bags tournament from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Teams of two, ages 18 and older, can register at the event for $30 and compete for cash prizes that will be determined by how many teams sign up.

Two bands also will entertain festivalgoers Friday night: Serendipity, which plays '80s cover music, and Saturday June Band, which plays classic hits.

Saturday's festivities feature many children's activities throughout the day, such as face painting, balloon making, a magic show and a reptile show. Wristbands will be available for $10 and allow kids to use the bouncy castles, slides, games, an obstacle course and an American Ninja Warrior Warped Wall, Parks and Recreation media liaison Janet Vargas said.

For adults, there will be beer sales, live bands, an arts and crafts fair, and food vendors. Bands scheduled to perform are The Harmony Sisters, The Pedestrians, Meghan and Caitlin Foley, Lake Effect, and Heartsfield.

Summerfest originally was organized by a volunteer commission, but this year the village's Parks and Recreation Department took over planning for the first time, Kudelas said.

The goal?

"To provide a fun, family, all-ages event in the community and to bring people together," she said. "It's a fun place for them to come and different things for them to do."