Say goodbye to summer with Septemberfest
There's no need to grieve for the passing of summer when another Septemberfest lies ahead this weekend.
The festivities get started at noon today when Miss Septemberfest is chosen from among the five-member Miss Septemberfest court at a special luncheon hosted by the Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates Rotary Club at the Poplar Creek Country Club in Hoffman Estates.
For most people, though, the carnival and pony rides, games, arts and crafts, Taste of Schaumburg and live entertainment get started Saturday morning.
This year's headlining musical acts are Pat Benatar and husband/guitarist Neil Giraldo at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, John Waite at 8:30 p.m. Sunday and Christopher Cross at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Fireworks will go off at 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 9 p.m. Monday. Sunday's show is billed as a "Sky Concert."
The Septemberfest parade begins at 10 a.m. Monday, moving north on Summit Drive from Wise Road to Stock Port Lane.
Of distinction this year is that all returning veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are being invited to march as parade co-marshals.
Also, the Schaumburg Athletic Association will be marking its 40th anniversary this year through its presence in the parade.
Join the force: The Schaumburg Police Department is now accepting applications for this fall's Citizen Police Academy.
The first session is from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays starting Sept. 26. It will run for 12 weeks.
Every facet of the police department will be open to participants, from learning how investigations are conducted to having the chance to shoot in the gun range.
The academy is intended to both tie into the department's community policing philosophy and to remove the mystery of police operations, which are often distorted and glamorized by TV and movie depictions, Acting Sgt. John Nebl said.
To register for this fall's academy, the police department section of the village Web site at www.villageofschaumburg.com or call Nebl at (847) 348-7276.
The academy is open to anyone 18 years old or older who either live or work in Schaumburg.
Aviation celebration: Even after the remains of Septemberfest are swept up next week, there'll still be another fun event to look forward to.
The fifth annual Aviation Celebration supporting the Woodfield Area Children's Organization will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 8 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 9 at Schaumburg Regional Airport, 905 W. Irving Park Road.
There will be airplane and car displays, as well as helicopter and airplane rides, an arts and crafts fair, games and a moon walk for the kids.
Admission is $7 per day ($8 at the gate) for children and adults; free for children ages 5 and younger.
For details or tickets, call Pilot Pete's restaurant at the airport, (847) 891-5100.
The Woodfield Area Children's Organization is a not-for-profit agency dedicated to helping needy children and their families in the region.