Round Lake celebrates on the streets

When summer arrives, the village of Round Lake celebrates in the streets.

But when the village also wants to honor its 100th anniversary, village organizers plan to fill the Streets of Summer festival Friday and Saturday with new additions to honor the makeup of the village and celebrate literally with a bang.

"The biggest change is we're trying to reach out to more of the community," village trustee Sherry Perkowitz said.

Perkowitz said one key element of the Streets of Summer Fest is the event has been moved from Magee Middle School, where it has run two years, to Goodnow between Cedar Lake Road and Route 134. She hopes as the village strives to renovate its downtown, moving the festival will start to bring more people there.

"If it's called the Streets of Summer, it should be held in the streets," she said.

The festival will start Friday with activities that reach out to the village's Hispanic community, Perkowitz said.

"I want them to feel comfortable coming there," she said. "Now there are events geared for them."

Kicking off the night will be Round Lake's first Iron Chef Competition from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Based on the Food Network show, Round Lake restaurants Taqueria Albiter and Ranchero Nuevo will compete in an Iron Chef competition Latino style.

Then, learn to salsa dance taught by a professional trained salsa instructor from 7 to 8 p.m. Use those new dancing skills as the Mambo All-Stars take the main stage from 8 to 9 p.m. The group plays a vast repertoire of music including salsa, merengue, mambo, Latin jazz, cha cha and more. The evening will close with a move into the 1970s courtesy of the Afrodisiacs at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday's lineup includes favorites and some new family offerings. The day will begin with the mayors 5K run and walk at 8 a.m. followed by the car show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pets will be a theme Saturday morning including low-cost vaccinations and pet microchips offered by the Lake County Animal Shelter at 11 a.m. Perkowitz said based on the clinic's popular response last year, the shelter has expanded to offer a division for smaller dog breeds. The pet parade also will begin at 11 a.m. featuring prizes for best trick and best dressed. At 11:45 a.m., watch Round Lake's Highway, Officer Michael Stevens and his trainer from TOPS demonstrate what it takes to be a certified police dog. Among new offerings Saturday will be a petting zoo from noon to 4 p.m. featuring 40 animals including ducks, chickens, llamas, rabbits and goats. and food to give them. Then, check out Planet Circus from 3 to 4 p.m. Featuring two circus entertainers from Argentina, they fill the show with juggling, magic, acrobatics and audience participation.

Followed by music Saturday night, Round Lake will end the festival with its first fireworks display at 10:30 p.m.

"We want to literally end the fest on a bang," she said.

The fireworks will be done by J &M Displays out of Iowa, who will shoot them off in a field behind the village hall.

"We've been told there will be enough clearance back there to shoot literally over the crowd safely," she said.

Round Lake's Streets of Summer Festival

The annual festival will take place Friday and Saturday on Goodnow between Cedar Lake Road and Route 134. All activities are free except food and drinks.

FRIDAY

5 p.m. Food and beer tent open

5:30 to 7 p.m. Round Lake's first Iron Chef Competition Latino style on main stage

7 to 8 p.m. Salsa lessons on main stage

8 to 9 p.m. Mambo All-Stars on main stage

9:30 to 10:30 p.m. Afrodisiacs on main stage

SATURDAY

8 a.m. Mayors 5K run and walk

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Car show

10 a.m. Lake County Animal Shelter offers low-cost vaccinations and pet microchip. Cost is $6 for rabies, distemper and Lake county rabies tags for altered pets ($25 for non-altered). Cost is $10 for pet microchip

10 a.m. Busy Brains Children's Museum offers interactive play areas

10 a.m. Army rock climbing wall and hummer

11 a.m. Food tents open

11 a.m. Save-A-Pet Adoption Services offers information on pet adoption

11 a.m. Pet parade. All pets are welcome but must be on a leash.

11:45 a.m. Round Lake canine demonstration

Noon Beer tent opens

Noon to 4 p.m. A Zoo to You petting zoo

Noon to 4 p.m. Buttons the Clown

1 to 6 p.m. Clowning Around Entertainment offers tot town, Dance Dance Revolution and a Velcro wall

1 to 5 p.m. NASCAR Prime Time Races

1 to 2 p.m. Scribble Monsters on main stage

3 to 4 p.m. Planet Circus show

4 to 6 p.m. Jason Kollum show variety show

5:15 p.m. Round Lake canine demonstration

7 to 8 p.m. Off Broadway on main stage

9:15 to 10:30 p.m. Seven Mary Three on main stage

10:30 p.m. Fireworks display