10 things you should know about the Goose is Loose Festival

It's got a silly name and a scatalogical-sounding main event, but Libertyville's annual Goose is Loose Festival has the community's best interests in mind.

Saturday's festival, run for the third consecutive year by the Libertyville Sunrise Rotary Club, will benefit local charities.

The centerpiece of the celebration is the goose-dropping contest, in which numbered, rawhide geese equipped with parachutes will be dropped from the sky toward targets on the ground. The geese closest to each target will earn cash prizes for the holders of corresponding raffle tickets.

Here are 10 things you should know about the festival before the goose is let loose.

1. The festival will be held at the Libertyville Sports Complex, which is at Route 45 and Peterson Road. Activities will begin at 3 p.m. and conclude after 9 p.m.

2. Admission is free. You don't have to buy raffle tickets to attend, either.

3. Raffle tickets for a maximum 3,000 geese will be sold. The odds of winning are based on the number of valid entries but are expected to be 1 in 375.

4. If all 3,000 tickets are sold, the grand prize will be $35,000. Seven $500 prizes also will be awarded. If all the tickets aren't sold, the grand prize will be smaller.

5. Raffle tickets cost $50 each. They can be purchased online at www.goosedropping.com.

6. You must be at least 18 years old to buy a goose.

7. The goose drop will occur at 6:15 p.m. If the weather's bad, it'll be postponed one day. Winners don't need to be present.

8. The raffle will benefit more than 20 local charities and organizations, including the David Adler Cultural Center, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, Maristella and Lake County Haven.

9. Kids' games, a goose egg hunt for children, a clown performance and a fireworks show are among the other activities on the schedule.

10. To get more information, review the rules or buy a goose, you can visit www.goosedropping.com.