Gurnee Days begins today
Viking Park and locations across Gurnee will be filled with family friendly activities, including music, food and games, as the Gurnee Days Corporations presents it annual celebration starting tonight.
Judge Valerie Boettle Ceckowski, a lifelong Gurnee resident, has been chosen as this year's Gurnee Days honoree. She will be honored at the testimonial dinner tonight to kick off the four-day festival and serve as parade marshal Sunday.
Each year, the Gurnee Days Corporation seeks nominations from the community for people who have made a significant contribution to the village for more than 10 years.
Ceckowski graduated from Gurnee Grade School in 1973 and Warren Township High School in 1977. In the 1980s, Ceckowski opened her Gurnee law office, Ceckowski & Venturi Ltd. In February 2007, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed her circuit judge in the 19th Judicial Circuit.
Wife to Doug and mother of three children, she is known as a tireless servant to the community. She has served on the Gurnee Civil Commission, is a founding member and past president of the Gurnee Breakfast Exchange Club. She helped organize the Gurnee Days festivities and was a past president. She now serves on the board for the Warren Township High School Foundation and Northern Illinois Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and is a new member of the Gurnee Rotary Club.
"Isn't it nice to say you have done so much for Gurnee that we should honor you at the start of Gurnee Days," Gurnee Days President Jim Caldwell said. "It's a fantastic thing."
Some of Friday's activities include a bicycle rodeo, Gurnee Idol and a Movie in the Park. For the fifth year at Gurnee Days, rides and games will be offered Friday through Sunday, as well as food and stage events. The amusement rides provide family fun and produce revenue for Gurnee Days, since part of ride ticket receipts will be given to the corporation.
Saturday's festivities include a golf tournament, 10K and 2-mile fun run and walk and basketball tournament. The Gurnee police and fire departments and historical Mother Rudd Home all will offer open houses. The day will end with a fireworks display, live bands and a rib fest at Viking Park.
The Breakfast Exchange Club once again will sponsor their annual rib-eating contest in conjunction with its Ribfest fundraiser. Proceeds go toward funding prevention of child abuse services in the greater Gurnee and Warren Township area.
Now in its sixth year, the competition will feature teams from the Gurnee Police Department, Gurnee Fire Department, Gurnee Park District, Warren-Newport Public Library, Gurnee Elementary District 56, Warren Township High School District 121, and the Gurnee Days Corporation. Mike Caplan, WLS-TV meteorologist and Gurnee resident, will emcee the contest.
Sunday's events include a parade along Grand Avenue. The Scoop the Loop Car Show will be displayed all day. Among attractions at Viking Park will be a bean bag tournament, children's pony rides and petting zoo and a talent show.
Also among Sunday's activities will be a car show organized by the North Shore Rods Incorporated. The display, which will be featured near the amusement rides, will feature vintage cars.
"The North Shore Rods Inc. came to us saying 'we'd be interested in coming to Gurnee Days and doing a car show,'" Caldwell said. "It's a nice thing."
Caldwell said Gurnee Days represents the hard work by volunteers, village and park officials to put together the festival each year, and a tight knit community that enjoys all the attractions the festival offers.
"They see what we have and show up with friends, neighbors and family," he said.
Gurnee Days
Featuring the theme, A Salute to Sitcoms," the festival will run Aug. 7 to 10 at Viking Park as well as other locations throughout Gurnee.
THURSDAY
10 a.m. to noon: Bike rodeo at Woodland Middle School
6 to 8 p.m.: Beach bash at Gowe Beach
7 p.m.: Testimonial dinner at Midlane Country Club
7 to 8:30 p.m.: Concert Under the Stars at Viking Park
FRIDAY
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Farmers market at Esper Petersen Park
10 a.m. to noon: Bike rodeo at Gurnee Fire Station 1
10 a.m.: Stories in the park at Viking Park
5 to 10:30 p.m.: Amusement rides at Viking Park
5 to 10 p.m.: Make it a Habit-at Food and Games at Viking Park
7 to 11 p.m.: Gurnee Idol and Dance at Viking Park band shell
8:30 to 11 p.m.: Movie in the Park at Viking Park fields
SATURDAY
7 a.m. to noon: Golf tournament at HeatherRidge Golf Course
7:30 a.m.: 10K race and 2 mile fun run and walk at Warren Township High School O'Plaine Campus
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Three-on-three basketball shoot out at Viking Park courts
10 a.m. to noon: Fire and police open houses at Old Grand Avenue and O'Plaine Road
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Young artists show at Viking School
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Mother Rudd open house
11 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Exhibits and games at Viking Park
11 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Food booths open at Viking Park
11 a.m.: Baby contest at Viking Park band shell
11:30 a.m. to noon: Canine Frisbee contest at Viking Park
Noon to 4 p.m.: Stage events at Viking Park band shell
1 to 11 p.m.: Amusement rides open at viking Park
3 to 11 p.m.: Rib Fest at Viking Park
4 p.m.: Ice cream eating contest at Viking Park
5 to 11 p.m.: Evening entertainment at Viking Park
9:30 p.m.: Fireworks at Viking Park
SUNDAY
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Scoop the Loop car show at Viking Park 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Young artists show at Viking Park
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Busy Brains Children's Museum at Viking Park
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Exhibits, food and games at Viking Park
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Make it a Habit-at Food and Games at Viking Park
Noon: Parade on Old Grand Avenue
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Bean bag tournament at Viking Park
1 to 5 p.m.: Amusement rides open at Viking Park
1 to 4 p.m.: Mother Rudd open house
1 to 4 p.m.: Children's pony rides and petting zoo at Viking Park
1 to 2 p.m.: Stage events at Viking Park band shell
2 to 4 p.m.: Talent show at Viking Park band shell