Festival theme is “Peace, Love and Libertyville”

Break out the tie-dye and platform shoes — it's time to let it all hang out at the Civic Center Foundation's annual Libertyville Days Festival.

“Peace, Love and Libertyville” is the theme this year for the annual event from Thursday, June 16, to Sunday, June 19, in the downtown area. Visit www.libciviccenter.org for details.

This year's event promises to be bigger and better than ever. An expanded beer garden and special family-oriented events on Father's Day, such as a watermelon eating contest, pet parade and Baggo tournament, are new this year.

The Libertyville Civic Center Foundation, which runs the annual event, has lined up a selection of somewhat psychedelic but family-oriented events designed to bring out your inner hippie.

Activities include a carnival by North American Midway Entertainment, an outdoor art fair and the popular Libertyville Days parade, featuring a large collection of helium parade balloons, marching bands, clowns and more.

The Taste of Libertyville will feature a variety of local food and drink vendors. For those 21 and older, the expanded beer garden will spread from the Civic Center parking lot and down Church Street, past the music stage and through the food court.

Local music headliners include Blonde on Board on Thursday and Libertyville's own Betty Soul Friday night. Feel the funk Saturday evening with The Fundamentalists, then mellow out with Mellencougar Sunday afternoon.

Don't worry if you rock out a little too close to the speakers, you can have your hearing checked for free on The Lions of Illinois Hearing Bus.

Besides the music, there are many out of sight activities for all ages, including the pageants for Miss, Junior Miss and Little Miss categories.

A Children's Party Friday morning offers free games, crafts, food and entertainment with the donation of nonperishable food items, and Cook Park will transform into an interactive Lego Land later in the afternoon.

Aspiring bakers can compete in the pie baking and cookie contests, and dudes and dudettes who love to sing, dance or jam in front of a live audience won't want to miss Libertyville's Got Talent!

The Libertyville Days parade, one of Lake County's largest, begins at 10 a.m. Saturday. The McNulty Irish Dancers will dazzle you with their synchronized dance steps at noon. Jill and Jeff follow with trippy stories for young and old and, later, Friendship Ambassadors will perform groovy music very similar to the hit show “Glee.”

Father's Day is designed with families in mind and features a pet parade and a street rod show. Bring dad back downtown for food, music and a game of Baggo.

Later, kids 14 and younger can participate in a watermelon eating contest.