All about having fun

Bloomingdale will bring the summer season to a close Saturday afternoon with a fall festival as familiar as the first day of school bells.

The 35th annual Septemberfest kicks of at 11 a.m. Saturday with a parade from DuJardin Elementary School to Old Town Park, where it will wind into a full day of crafts, food, music and neighbors.

Fest committee member Mitch Frumkin said this year's parade highlights will include appearances by the Jessie White Tumblers, The Little People and the Hawaiian Dancers.

"We're all about fun and the fest is all about fun, so we're going to start things off with a fun parade and go right into a fun-filled day with neighbors," Frumkin said.

For years the event was held on Sunday to honor Bloomingdale's past, when farmers traditionally took their only day off to rest from chores. In recent years, however, the festival has been moved to Saturday to avoid competing with Sunday's Bears season opener.

When the party picks back up in Old Town, visitors will be entertained by trick bicyclist Frank Birdsall and live musical bands on stage including, The Sting Rays and The New Invaders.

Other attractions scheduled are the Center Stage Dance troupe and the Bloomingdale Park District gymnastic and drill teams.

Several food vendors also will be on hand, but the village's heartiest eaters will try their mouths at the chamber of commerce pie eating contest.

"That'll be a mess for sure, but a tasty one," Frumkin said.

The always popular motorcycle and classic car shows return this year as well to be judged later in the night.

"We have some beautiful bikes lined up to be viewed," he said. "And there are some unique cars being shown off as well."

The Septemberfest/Joe Draghi Memorial Scholarship Contest winners will be announced at 5 p.m. This scholarship fund has given thousands of dollars to young adults in the community to help ease the burden of their college costs.

For details, call (630) 671-5680.

Bloomingdale's Septemberfest

The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday at Old Town Park. The daylong fest includes a parade, live music, performances by local dance and drill teams, car and motorcycle shows and a pie-eating contest. Admission and parking are free. Call (630) 671-5680 or visit www. vil.bloomingdale.il.us/septemberfest/index.htm.

SATURDAY

11 a.m. Parade starts at DuJardin School, heads west on Schick Road and north on Bloomingdale Road to Old Town Park

Noon Opening ceremonies

12:30 p.m. M&R Music on Stage

1 p.m. Frank Birdsall, trick bike performer

1:30 p.m. Center Stage dance performance

2 p.m. Bloomingdale Park District gymnastic and drill teams

2 to 8 p.m. Car show

2 to 7 p.m. Motorcycle show

2:30 p.m. Pie-eating contest

3 p.m. The Stingrays

5 p.m. Scholarship winners announced

5:30 p.m. Car show and motorcycle show winners announced

6 p.m. M&R Music on Stage

7 p.m. The New Invaders

10 p.m. M&R Music on Stage