Lake Villa heats up for summer
After 10 years, Lake Villa's Celebration of Summer festival is hitting its stride.
"It's starting to get its own following, just like Lake Villa Days, which has been around probably 80 years," said Mayor Frank Loffredo.
The festival, which runs Thursday, June 10, through Sunday, June 13, has the same basic framework as in years past, including live music, food, carnival games and fireworks. But organizers say there is more heft to the final day's lineup.
Besides the Kroozers car show, which features as many as 200 classic, muscle and antique cars, the Sunday offerings by public safety agencies have been expanded to include a bike safety check, a "burning" house for kids to extinguish and more equipment.
"It's a lot more complete," Loffredo said.
Also on Sunday, the cardboard boat race allows kids and adults of all ages to build and race a cardboard boat. There are winners in three age categories and prizes for best decorated boats in several categories.
This year, there's a new category - political signs - in which participants will build boats out of old campaign posters.
This will put to use all those political signs that once adorned our roadways and highways, said Dan Venturi, Lake Villa Township supervisor. It will also be an opportunity for candidates to see if their campaigns can stay afloat, he joked.
"If we're building boats, they'd (signs) actually be pretty good. They're more water resistant," Venturi said.
"It's just something different. It is a political year," Venturi added.
The category is open to politicians, campaign workers and anyone with a supply of political signs.
Registration for all categories of the boat race starts at 11 a.m. Boat kits are available for $15. Registration is $8 in advance and $10 the day of the race. The race begins at 1 p.m.
Loffredo said the event began in 2001, the village's centennial year. The township partners with the village in planning and coordinating the festival.
Other attractions include "The Audition" theatrical performance at 5:30 p.m. Thursday; teen night from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday; live music from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday followed by fireworks at dusk; and the Kroozers car show, public safety day and boat races on Sunday.
If you goWhat: Lake Villa Celebration of SummerWhen: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 10; 6-9 p.m. Friday, June 11; 5-10 p.m. Saturday, June 12; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 13Where: Lehmann Park, 89 Cedar Ave., Lake VillaAdmission: FreeMore info: lake-villa.org in the village newsletter and events section, or lakevillatownship.orgTrue20001152The cardboard boat races are a big attraction at Lake Villa's annual Celebration of Summer Festival. A new political sign category will be introduced this year.Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff PhotographerTrue