Fests galore in Carpentersville and the Dundees
If you want to save money this summer by attending events in the Dundee Area but can't find anything to fill your weekend nights, you're obviously looking in the wrong places.
The schedule for this year's Dundee Township Park District Concert and Movie in the Park is chock-full of family-friendly events sure to please just about anyone.
If you can't afford tickets to the Rod Stewart and Bryan Adams show in August, or if you love the classic hits of the '60s, I am sure at least one of the bands on the lineup will pique your interest.
Concerts start at 7 p.m. and movies start at 9 p.m.
The summer schedule kicks of at 7 p.m. Friday at Randall Oaks Park with the Fabulous Murray Brothers performing a unique musical and variety show.
A description says their show combines musical virtuosity with impersonations, audience participation and laughter.
After the show, be sure to stick around for the movie "Barnyard." In addition, the Randall Oaks Barnyard Zoo will feature Dollar Days from 5 to 7 p.m. in honor of the zoo opening for the summer.
Admission is $1 per person and families will receive one complimentary bag of feed.
The fun then moves to the East Dundee Depot on June 27 for Pirates Over 40, a Jimmy Buffet tribute band perfect for those balmy summer nights.
More talking animals will entertain the children with the free screening of "Over the Hedge," beginning at 8:30 p.m.
Once you recover from Friday's festivities, you can do it all again on Saturday at the Second Annual Great American Festival in Carpentersville.
The festival starts at 3 p.m. in the parking lot of Meadowdale Mall and at the adjacent Meadowdale Park.
A fireworks display will cap the night at 9 p.m.
Grafelman Park in West Dundee is the place to be on July 11. Soda plays crowd-pleasers from the Counting Crows, Prince, the Bo Deans and Johnny Cash.
Again, talking animals in "Water Horse: The Legend of the Deep."
For a night off from talking animals, you will have to wait until July 18 when "Back to the Future" entertains Grafelman Park.
But Before Marty McFly and Doc Brown take over the big screen, a few young musicians who weren't yet born when "Back to the Future" was released in 1985 will take to the stage.
Stockwood, a group of 11- to 15-year-olds, bring back the Beatles.
More old favorites from the 60s to the 80s are on tap for the July 25 show also at Grafelman.
The Legends play hits from one-hit wonders to surf-tune classics. The band has shared the stage with ZZ Top, Joan Jett the Monkeys and Steppenwolf, just to name a few.
Which talking animal movie is left? "Madagascar."
Grafelman park continues to rock on Aug. 1 with Class of 68, a rock and roll band that captures the energy and enthusiasm of what many would consider the golden age of top 40s greatest hits, a flier reads.
Question: Where can you see Michael Jordan and a talking bunny? Answer: "Space Jam."
The summer concert and movies in the park series closes Aug. 8 at Randall Oaks Park with Underwater People and "Evan Almighty," which probably has talking animals and Steve Carrell.