Mount Prospect expanding Midsummer Downtown Block Party

Mount Prospect is beefing up its annual Midsummer Downtown Block Party, adding an extra day and bringing aboard a management company to run the event.

Village trustees this week approved hiring Ravenswood Event Services, which has experience with events such as the Palatine Street Fest, at a cost not to exceed $20,000.

Village Manager Michael Janonis said the village also will add a second day to the summer festival, running it on a Friday and Saturday this year.

“We’re doing something a little different in terms of how we are approaching the block party, both in terms of logistics and the number of days it will be held,” Janonis said.

Mount Prospect has held the event, in conjunction with the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce, each summer since 1999.

Maura El Metennani, the village’s public information officer, told trustees the village discovered Ravenswood through the talent booking agent that helped bring bands to last year’s event.

“Based on their experience, we feel that they would be a very good fit for our event and for our village,” she said. “There are several areas where we feel they can really help make it a stronger event.”

The firm also could save the village money because of special pricing it receives through vendors due to the volume of events it handles through the year, including Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier and the Taste of Oak Brook, she added.

“They have contacts with national and regional sponsors that we wouldn’t have access to,” she said. “They really understand the nature of the event and are very willing to work with us.”

Janonis emphasized it will remain a free event.

“What we’re looking to do is pump up some of the traffic that we’re getting in,” he said.

Another expected change for the event will involve closing the intersection of Emerson Street and Busse Avenue from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning.

The fees paid to Ravenswood would include $6,000 for event management, $4,000 for a social media campaign, $3,000 for the graphic design/website and $4,920 for labor.

The village intends to offset the costs through sponsorships and cost savings.

Janonis said the goal is for the event to be cost neutral.

“Hopefully they will bring in enough sponsors they can cover their own fees here,” he said.