Villa Park, Winfield fests off to soggy start

The sonic crunch of Derek Lundgren, 17, on guitar and vocals, Matt Butler, 16, on bass, and Jack Trevino on drums supplied the soundtrack to opening night of Villa Park's Oktoberfest at Lions Park Thursday night.

Together, the three Willowbrook students are Damage Industry, and they were the first of a series of musical groups to play on Teen Night.

"This is our first real gig," said Trevino, who played to the band's parents and friends who didn't let brief showers dampen their debut.

"Mother Nature's not cooperating," said Mose Rickey, teen program manager for Villa Park. "We had 40 kids come in. Then came the rain."

Still, after a soggy start, slowly crowds began to build.

Crews used leaf blowers to dry off a soaked wood panel dance floor placed before the outdoor stage.

Sponsored by the village's parks and recreation department, the three-day festival continues today at 5 p.m. with carnival rides, classic rock from The New Invaders and the beer tent missing Thursday that some older attendees tried in vain to find.

Party animals on two and four legs will be present Saturday at Oktoberfest's annual parade and pet costume contest. There also will be an evening musical tribute to area veterans.

In Winfield, Thursday was the start of Good Old Days, in the village's Town Center.

Loose Screws was one of four bands scheduled to play opening night.

Entering its 40th year, Good Old Days has expanded to cover four days, adding Thursday to the schedule, which runs through Sunday.

In Villa Park, Bob Beda watched as his daughter Katie, 7, held an inflated flower balloon and stared up at the Super Shot carnival ride, in which people were hoisted high and plunged low.

"Today, toys," Beda said, "Tomorrow, rides."