Food, music offered at Round Lake Beach Fest
Round Lake Beach will offer food, music, crafts and carnival attractions as the fourth annual Beach Fest kicks off at 4 p.m. Friday.
The festival will run from 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Round Lake Cultural and Civic Center grounds on Hook Drive between Route 83 and Orchard in Round Lake Beach.
Organizers are trying a couple new things at Beach Fest this year - a family carnival and an indoor craft market to hopefully attract teens and seniors to the festival.
Village Trustee Sue Butler said a new company, Great American Shows, based in Kentucky will provide a family carnival that will be open every day of the festival.
"We wanted to see what other companies would be able to offer us," she said. "The last company offered no teenage rides. This offers rides for all ages."
Hoping to provide an attraction for seniors, the festival also will feature its first craft market inside the cultural and civic center. Offering items sold by 38 crafters from across the Chicago area, the market will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The berm outside the cultural and civic center provides the stage to allow up to 3,500 people to enjoy free musical entertainment over the three days. The music follows the festival's success by offering local bands as well as tribute bands and paying attention to the community's Hispanic population, Butler said.
Local band "Minus One" will kick off the music from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday followed by classic rock tribute band "Arra" from 8:30 to 11 p.m.
Saturday's lineup includes another local band, "Peter and the Versatiles" from 6 to 8 p.m. and then tribute band "MellenCougar" from 8:30 to 11 p.m. On Sunday, listen to Jimmy Buffett tunes from "South of Disorder" from 3 to 4:30 p.m. followed by "Joe Public", a nine-piece band offering Latin sounds and horns.
"We are a diverse community. We want to reach out to them. This year, we have," Butler said.
Each day, variety also will be the offering as visitors choose what to purchase to eat at Beach Fest. Among the choices will be pizza, smoothies, hot dogs, deep fried corn on the cob and barbecue. A beer tent also will be open throughout Beach Fest.
Butler said the village welcomes not only its residents but people across Lake County to come start their summer with great music, food and a fun time.
"That's what Beach Fest is all about, to come celebrate the summer," Butler said.
Beach Fest
Runs Friday through Sunday in Round Lake Cultural and Civic Center grounds on Hook Drive between Route 83 and Orchard in Round Lake Beach.
FRIDAY
4 p.m. Festival opens
4-11 p.m. Carnival, food vendors, beer tent open
6-8 p.m. "Minus One" on the Mainstage
8:30-11 p.m. "Arra" on the Mainstage
SATURDAY
Noon Festival opens
Noon-5 p.m. Craft market opens inside the center
Noon-11 p.m. Carnival, food vendors, beer tent open
2-4 p.m. 95.1 WILLRock, on the festival grounds
4-6 p.m. WXLC 102.3, on the festival grounds
6-8 p.m. "Peter & the Versatiles" on the Mainstage
8:30-11 p.m. "MellenCougar"
SUNDAY
1 p.m. Festival opens
1-5 p.m. Craft market open inside the center
1-8 p.m. Carnival, food vendors, beer tent open
3-4:30 p.m. "South of Disorder" on the Mainstage
5:30-8 p.m. "Joe Public"