After near cancelation last year, Hampshire festival prepares to donate more to local pantry

Many people attending this weekend’s Hampshire Coon Creek Country Days may wonder where the money goes from the wristband they purchase at the fair.

If the thought of it going back to feed families in the Hampshire and Burlington communities was one possible answer, then they are correct.

The village of Hampshire is having its annual summer festival, 28th year overall, under the name Coon Creek Country Days. Proceeds from the fair will go toward the Burlington-Hampshire Food Pantry.

There were some people who believed the festival would get canceled due to lack of sponsorship and funding, said Country Days Committee President Don Edmonson. However, this year’s celebration shows no signs of fear or uncertainty.

“We tried coming up with sponsorship packages, take out ads for our sponsors,” Edmonson said.

This was particularly good news for the Burlington-Hampshire Food Pantry. Last year, Edmonson said Country Days raised about $2,000 for the pantry, which currently operates out of Hampshire’s First United Methodist Church.

The Burlington-Hampshire Food Pantry serves between 30 and 60 households in Burlington and Hampshire, said Pastor Gavin Brandt of the First United Methodist Church. He said the festival is important in contributing to the feeding of as many people as possible in the community who are in need.

Besides the proceeds, the food pantry also asks for food donations during the annual Guns and Hoses softball game and the Country Days parade, both of which take place this weekend.

Working out of a church has been difficult, added Brandt, who’s been a pastor at the church for four years. But he expects greater things from the pantry and the community when they move pantry operations to a new location just north of the Hampshire railroad tracks.

The move was made possible after an anonymous donor gave them enough money to relocate to a bigger location.

“It was a substantial amount of money, let’s put it that way,” Brandt said. “We will now have a facility where we can load and unload food. No more driving to and from and picking up everything. It will become a more accessible and larger food pantry for the community.”

Donations aside, Coon Creek Country Days promises to be another success. This year’s edition include amusement rides, live music, beer tent, the Coon Creek Classic, parade and fireworks show on Saturday night. More than 40 local crafters and around 10 food vendors will be in attendance as well.

Joanne Peterson, Country Days Committee secretary and crafters chairwoman, said businesses and nonprofit organizations from all over the Chicago area will be on display at the crafters section.

Carl Palmisano, food vendors chairman, said the expansion of the festival required more food vendors, which had dropped as low as four vendors not too long ago. This year’s lineup includes local restaurants and organizations.

Hampshire Coon Creek Country Days runs today through Sunday at Bruce Ream Park, 638 W. Terwilliger Ave.

For details, visit hampshirecooncreekdays.com.

If you go

What: Hampshire Coon Creek Country Days

When: Today, Aug. 4, through Sunday, Aug. 7. 6-10 p.m. today; 6-11 p.m. Friday; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday

Where: Bruce Ream Park 638 W. Terwilliger Ave., Hampshire

How much? Free admission, entertainment and parking; $20 amusement ride wristbands

Details: <a href="http://www.hampshirecooncreekdays.com">hampshirecooncreekdays.com</a>