Get ready to boogie during street dance

Wauconda's Main Street will close once again so that people can dance.

The Wauconda Chamber of Commerce will hold its eighth annual street dance, "Jammin' on Main," from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday.

Deb Ogorzaly, the chamber's executive director, said 3,000 people fill Main Street to enjoy food served by chamber members and music.

Among the restaurants that will serve food are Village Inn of Wauconda, Lakeside Inn of Wauconda, M's Sweets and Tarts, Three Amigas, JJ Twigs, Transfiguration School, Lindy's Corner Café, Luigi's Pizzeria, Duke's Grill, Island Lake Dairy Queen and the Wauconda Rotary Club.

Providing music through the night will be Kevin Purcell and the Nightburners and Crossroads.

Ogorzaly said Purcell's band, which welds gritty sounds of Chicago blues with the soul of southern rock, is a returning favorite in Wauconda. The band has performed at the Waucondafest, the rodeo and previous street dances.

Ogorzaly added the band is putting together a demo to try to appear on an upcoming band edition of "American Idol."

"We have a hard time getting them off the stage. People are egging them on for an encore," she said.

Sharing the stage will be the Wauconda Lions Club, which will pick the winner of a Harley-Davidson at 8 p.m.

The event not only helps residents celebrate the end of summer, Ogorzaly said, but also supports the Wauconda/Island Lake Food Pantry, which is in the citizens activity center across from the village hall.

Ogorzaly said the dance culminates a month-long effort by chamber businesses to support the pantry. Many businesses give cash donation, adding the chamber already has collected $1,300.

Some also serve as a collection site where people have dropped off food. The street dance is the icing on the cake to support the food pantry.

"The building is overflowing. It takes them a week to put away all the food that is donated," she said.

Everyone who brings a food or monetary donation to the street dance will receive a free raffle ticket. Additional tickets cost $1 each.

Prizes will include a Chicago Bears Brian Urlacher autographed jersey and a one-day pontoon rental from Wauconda Boat.