Big Fourth festival weekend starts today

Posted July 03, 2013 5:15 am

By Melissa Silverberg

Watching the Frontier Days festival come to life from atop a baseball dugout in Recreation Park are, from left: Kevin Donohue, 13; Jace O'Hara, 12; Riley Rundquist, 12 and Joey Belmonte, 12, all of Arlington Heights. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Recreation Park in Arlington Heights magically transformed into a major festival grounds on Tuesday, preparing for the tens of thousands of Frontier Days visitors who will start coming on Wednesday, July 3.

It's one of six Northwest suburban festivals opening Wednesday, most of which go through Sunday. The fests are in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Mount Prospect, Palatine and the Northwest Fourth-Fest in Hoffman Estates. The Barrington festival opens Wednesday also, but closes Saturday.

For a closer look at the festivals and fireworks closest to you, see listings in the Entertainment section at or the Daily Herald's online calendar .

Setting up a Frontier Days festival ride is Jacques Kuhn of Cape Town, South Africa, who waits as other workers fit one of the rides into position. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Jaundre Thompson of Johannesburg, South Africa wrenches a nut and bolt into place at the Frontier Days carnival. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com