Mount Prospect Lions Club Festival celebrates 79th year
The Mount Prospect Lions Club will pack its five-day Fourth of July festival, now in its 79th straight year, with rides, music, food and fireworks.
The Mount Prospect Lions Club Festival offers two nights of fireworks along with bands, a carnival, car show and pancake breakfast. The long-running annual festival is set for Friday, June 30, through the Fourth of July at Melas Park, 1500 W. Central Road.
This year, visitors will hear a variety of music, including pop, rock and country. Musical acts include "The Voice" finalist Keith Semple, who will be headlining on the festival's opening day.
The Chicago Experience, Infinity, 7th heaven and Jay Goeppner & Backdated will headline the musical acts Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
Except for Friday, when the music starts after opening ceremonies at 6 p.m., and Monday, when the festival begins at 6 p.m., the bands will be performing from the afternoon through the evening. Headlining bands play from 8:30-11 p.m.
Fireworks are 9:45-10 p.m. Friday and 9:30-10 p.m. Tuesday. Each display is slotted between sets by music headliners.
From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, there will be a car show at the Mount Prospect Public Works building, 1700 W. Central Road.
The festival's annual pancake breakfast and bake sale will be from 7-11 a.m. on the Fourth of July.
Families will enjoy unlimited rides during select times with the purchase of a $25 wristband. The select times are 6-11 p.m. Friday, 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 6-to 11 p.m. Monday and 1-5 p.m. Tuesday.
Discounted wristbands can be purchased for $20 until June 29 at Cumberland Barbershop, 30 Northwest Hwy. in Des Plaines; Keefer's Pharmacy, 5 W. Prospect Ave.; Express Gifts/Shell Gas Station, 630 W. Rand Road; the Mount Prospect village hall, 50 S. Emerson St.; and Mount Prospect Public Works, 1700 W. Central Road.
This year's festival is occurring in the year of the 100th anniversary of Mount Prospect's incorporation and of the Lions Clubs International's founding in Chicago. The full festival schedule can be found online at www.mplions.org/festival.html.