Windmill City Festival offers free family fun July 13-15
Windmill City Festival has long been a staple of the community and has become a tradition for many local families. The festival features countless activities over the course of two and a half days.
Whether you visit the carnival, compete in a 5k, participate in the pet parade or dive in to an ice cream eating contest, every member of the family is sure to find a new favorite activity! This year's festival will be held Friday, July 13 through Sunday, July 15 at the Riverwalk in downtown Batavia. Admission is free.
Mark your calendar and be sure to drop by the downtown area to enjoy Batavia's biggest event of the summer! The Windmill City Festival committee includes representatives from the Batavia Park District, Batavia Chamber of Commerce and the City of Batavia.
New this year
Get five extra hours of fun Friday! Food booths will open at 11 a.m., and the beer garden and carnival will open at noon on Friday, July 13. Grab lunch from one of the food vendors, play a few games then experience a carnival ride.
The Golf Challenge is back by popular demand! Take your shot at chipping a hole-in-one on a floating green in the Depot Pond. Hours of operation will be Friday, July 13 and Saturday, July 14 from noon to 6 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for landing on the green or making a hole-in-one. The cost is just $1 for two shots.
Grab your friends, and step in to the Windmill City Festival Photo Booth Saturday, July 14 from 6-11 p.m. Each photo strip is just $2.
Unique Offerings
Gear up for some competition at this year's Windmill City Festival. Test your appetite at the ice cream eating contest at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 15; hit one out of the park at the Wiffleball Home Run Derby on Saturday, July 14 from 1-4 p.m.; or compete in the Game Stop Guitar Hero Competition on Friday, July 13 from 8:45-10:45 p.m.
The Batavia Teen Center Battle of the Bands runner up “Leadfood Linda” will perform on Saturday, July 14 from 3-4 p.m. on the Main Stage. The band features Evan Reid and David Michelson of Batavia and Jack Kimberly and Robert Kolet of St. Charles. The band met at Music Matters School of Music two years ago and has been rehearsing and performing ever since.
Favorite Traditions
The Craft Show and Flea Market creates a shopper's paradise along the scenic Fox River. Stop by and browse a variety of vendors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 14.
Suit up your pet rabbit, turtle, cat or dog for this year's pet parade held on Saturday, July 14 at 10 a.m. Participants can register from 9:15 - 9:50 a.m. near the main stage. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Best Trick, Fastest Wagging Tail, Most Spots, Longest Ears, Most Unusual Pet, Best Costume, Highest Jump and Best Kisser. Each participant will receive a free goodie bag and contest winners will receive prizes courtesy of local retailers.
Runners take your mark and prepare to tackle the Fox River Trail on Sunday, July 15 at 8:30 a.m. during the Windmill Whirl 5K Run. The course covers some of the most spectacular scenery of the Fox River Valley. Race day registration is available for $30. Forms are available online at www.bataviaparks.org.
Fun for Adults
There is no reason why adults should feel left out of the loop at this year's festival! There is a variety of offerings for the big kid in you, including a bags tournament, live bands and an adult-division in the ice cream eating contest! Grab a partner and “Toss for a Cause” in the Batavia Parks Foundation's annual bags tournament at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 14. Cash prizes will go to the top two teams. After the bags tournament be sure to stop by the food booths and the beer garden.
For more information about Windmill City Festival or for a complete schedule of events, visit www.windmillcityfest.org.