Ice cream didn't freeze his brain

Sean Boyle has a decided advantage when it comes to ice cream eating contests.

It's not that he is an offensive tackle with Batavia High School.

It's not that he is trying to put on as much weight as he can this summer to bulk up for his senior season.

No, his advantage is in his mind. Or, more specifically, in his brain.

"I don't get brain freeze," said Boyle, 17. "I haven't had brain freeze my entire life."

Boyle won the age 14 to 20 division of the contest Saturday at the Windmill City Festival on the Riverwalk in Batavia. The competition also had an adult competition and a division of under 13.

The festival lasted from early morning with a farmer's market at 9 a.m. and a pet parade at 10 a.m. to the ice cream eating contest in the early afternoon. A bags tournament and live music capped off the event.

The aim was to offer enough variety for everybody to have a good time, said Allison Sohr, director of marketing and public relations for Batavia Park District.

"Our goal is to get as many people as we can to relax, kick back, take in the scenery," she said. "It brings people downtown that probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the festival."

And each year, organizers like to change things up, she said.

One new element of Saturday's festival was the Magical Balloon Man, Rich Centeno.

Kids requested certain balloon shapes - and even cartoon characters were fair game.

Kelly Wenzel requested a Minnie Mouse balloon. The balloon matched the 4-year-old's hat.

She and her brother, Andy, were their with their parents, Mark and Carol Kase of North Aurora.

"It's amazing," Carol said of the balloon shapes, which also included Spiderman. "I've never seen anything like it."

It was their first time at the festival.

"They did a real nice job here," Mark said. "It's really child-oriented."

The festival began Thursday on a sour note, when high winds canceled planned concerts.

After two smooth-sailing days, however, Sohr said they have about two weeks to enjoy the afterglow of this year's event before it's time to plan next year's festival. But she is OK with her job being a year-round business.

"I basically promote fun for a living."