Vernon Hills dreaming big for 50th anniversary

They're not sure what the celebration will entail but Vernon Hills officials want it to be memorable.

Big name entertainment likely will be the common denominator on July 16, 2008, when the village celebrates its 50th birthday. Village trustees last week began discussing various scenarios.

"They really were focused on that," said Village Manager Mike Allison.

Where the event would be held and who would be invited is yet to be determined. Trustees have not determined whether it would be a resident-only event or something the general public could attend.

In any case, village trustees all agree it should be something special.

"This is the 50th anniversary party. Can we do it right?" Mayor Roger Byrne asked during the recent discussion.

He advocated, and a majority of the board informally agreed, to pursue a major musical act. The village prides itself on the entertainment at the annual Summer Celebration festival but the anniversary is being considered something entirely different.

In 2005, for example, headliner Grand Funk Railroad was hired for $30,000, perhaps the single most expensive act in the celebration's long history.

"This one could be a good piece more than that," Allison said of the possible anniversary performer. "Were going to start looking into that."

A decision is far from being made but the suggestions, some probably tongue in cheek, have begun to flow.

"We've already heard about the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Buffet, Cheap Trick," said Allison. "Bob Dylan, that was another one."

Where it would be held is another unknown. The Vernon Hills Athletic Complex is a large open area but there would be logistical concerns to host a big time act, for example.

One near certainty is that the event would include fireworks. That would mean the village would be hosting three fireworks shows next July: the traditional Fourth of July celebration, the anniversary concert and the opening night of Summer Celebration.

Trustees informally agreed the anniversary should be a separate matter and did not want to join it with Summer Celebration, originally scheduled for that week. It likely will be delayed a week.

The village also is beginning to consider other possibilities to alert the public to the anniversary. Some type of giveaway is a possibility but cost could become a factor.

"We should really gear that up in the next few months. Sending something out during the holiday season may be nice," Allison said. "What do you give somebody that's kind of classy yet inexpensive."