Campton Hills festival moving to greener pastures

Campton Hills has learned a thing or two about partying over the last couple of years.

For one, it's tough standing in an asphalt parking lot all day. And, it turns out, a lot of people want more than snacks to go along with their festival.

This year, the committee that puts on the village's annual Heritage Farm Fest hopes to solve both issues by moving the event from the village hall parking lot to a local park, where there'll be room for an outdoor food court, among other perks.

"For the first time, our petting zoo can go on green grass and under trees," said Linda Bauman, chair of the Campton Hills Community Relations Committee.

Organizers say they hope to draw 500 people or more to the village Saturday for the third annual festival at Anderson Park, along Brown Road just west of downtown.

The free event opens with an expanded version of the village's weekly farmer's market at 8 a.m., followed by live music, games and demonstrations from local organizations starting at 10 a.m. The entertainment, including a performance by the local FamJam group, continues until dusk.

"The purpose of Heritage Farm Fest is to get our local families out into the fresh air and have some fun," Bauman said.

New this year will be Cow Chip Bingo, which involves a cow (provided by local farmer and village trustee Al Lenkaitis Jr.) doing its business on a large grid similar to a bingo card. Participants try to predict where the cow will make a pit stop.

"The prizes, appropriately, will be pies," Bauman said.

Several local restaurants also will be on hand selling chicken kebabs, pizza, corn dogs, funnel cakes and other food. Bauman said the expanded menu was suggested by festival-goers after two years of serving only snacks, such as popcorn and nachos.

In addition, two popular attractions from years past - a petting zoo and an inflatable "moonwalk" for children - will return.

Bauman said last year's festival appeared to be a hit, with an estimated 300 to 400 visitors. She said organizers also hope to draw on the success of the village's National Night Out Against Crime event in early August, which had a crowd of about 500.

"We're really hoping we can get this festival to match that," she said.

There is no charge for admission to the festival or parking, which will be ample this year, Bauman said, because of the festival's new location. Some activities, such as Cow Chip Bingo, however, will carry a small donation to support the festival.

For more information, or to volunteer to work at the festival, call (630) 584-5700.