Des Plaines Fall Fest canceled

Organizers of the annual Des Plaines Fall Fest announced Thursday the cancellation of the event, originally scheduled for Sept. 18-20.

The festival normally attracts large crowds to Lake Park for three days of live bands, a carnival, kids activities, food and drink, historical re-enactors and sponsor booths.

But officials with the Des Plaines Park District, Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce and Des Plaines History Center said such a large-scale event would only fall within the guidelines of Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois plan, and that might not occur until next year.

"As many large-scale events are being canceled throughout the state of Illinois due to COVID-19, we regret that we have to do the same," said Don Miletic, the park district's executive director. "We look forward to bringing Fall Fest back to Des Plaines in 2021."