Arlington Heights residents rejoice in return of Frontier Days Festival
Frontier Days, the free Fourth of July festival, returned to Arlington Heights following a two-year hiatus, overcoming unprecedented challenges in supply cost and volunteer turnout.
Crowds of families and friends snaked their way in the summer heat from downtown Arlington Heights, and surrounding suburbs, to the annual five-day festival just a few blocks away.
After pausing festivities due to covid concerns, the rotating Ferris wheel, assortment of carnival rides with attached yells of amusement are a welcome sight for both patrons and "red-shirt" volunteers, who work all year round to make the festival happen.
However, this year's celebration came with significant hurdles for organizers and volunteers alike.
Operated by the non-profit Frontier Days, Inc., the nearly 50-year-old festival continued its free admission policy despite costs of supplies skyrocketing from 2019's festival, organizers said.
"This year has been a particular challenge for us," co-chair Kim Kase said. "Our mainstage is almost double what it has been in the past. Fences are double. The port-a-potties are way more than they were before."
Costs are just one issue, with the amount of volunteers being lower than previous years. As such, organizers and volunteers had to draw in more friends and family members to keep things running.
"Most of the red-shirts have been doing this for 20, 30 years and they're all getting up in age, as we all are," Kase said.
Special Events Coordinator Ryan Danzinger is one of the younger members of the red-shirt family. Born and raised in Arlington Heights, he brought in his mother and husband help with face painting and photography, respectively.
"I feel like in Arlington Heights, for us, there is something special about this town," Danzinger said. "I'm also involved with the historical museum and society, too. I just love Arlington Heights. I love the chance to give back so that's why I keep coming back."
"One of the one of our pickup trucks we're using for garbage at night is my son-in-law's truck [he] donated for two weeks," Kase said.
Donna Jonas, co-food and beverage coordinator and former co-chair, has been volunteering with Frontier Days since 1981 - five years after the festival began as a bicentennial celebration for America.
Despite lots of change, the core mission has remained the same. "Always, our goal is to just offer something good for the community," Jonas said.
"I think that's what motivates all of us," she said. "You see people, the smiles on their faces and they're enjoying things."
Frontier Days cancelled all scheduled afternoon and evening events the day of July 4 following the shooting and public safety alert in Highland Park, as reported by the Daily Herald.