Prospect Heights' Summerfest is one eventful day
Prospect Heights Summerfest is packing all its fun into one day this year, but carnival rides will get folks in the mood the evening before.
Summerfest will return to Lions Park, 110 W. Camp McDonald Road, on Saturday, June 27, after a few years at a different location.
The carnival is open to the public from 6-10 p.m. Friday after an hour of free rides and events for special needs members of the community sponsored by Alpine Amusements, the carnival operator. Saturday's carnival hours are from noon to 10 p.m.
The decision to compress the three-day festival into a single day was made because the committee feared the economy's woes would make it difficult to find sponsors, said Kathy Nowicki, executive director of the Prospect Heights Park District, which works with the city to organize Summerfest.
Musical headliners are the Postadelics, performing cover music from 6:30-8 p.m., followed by the Fairlanes' several decades of songs from 8:30-10 p.m.
Mobile Music will announce the day's runs and provide music before and during the races.
While runs are traditionally held early in the morning, the running community has requested the 5K and 10K runs start at the more prominent spot of 6 p.m., said Nowicki. The races are dedicated to the memory of Lou Johnson, who was active in running and in youth baseball.
The one-mile Kid Fun Run will be at 5 p.m. People can register for the runs at the festival, online, or at the Gary Morava Recreation Center, 110 W. Camp McDonald Road. There is a charge.
The day's events kick off with the Prospect Heights Lions serving pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon. They will be assisted by the Prospect Heights/Wheeling Youth Baseball/Softball association and the youth football association.
Other food vendors will set up from noon to 10 p.m., accompanied by a beer garden.
Swimming in the pool is free and includes games from noon to 6 p.m.
Other traditional events are youth ball games from 9 a.m. to noon, the 1-8 p.m. dunk tank and the 2 p.m. dance recital by selected groups from park district classes.
Information is at phparkdist.org/special-events.htm.