Juggles, bubbles, bags and the Rivets all part of a busy Saturday in Deerfield
It's back to normal for Deerfield's Harvest Fest.
Canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, moved in 2021 to a different site and incorporating fireworks from a July 4 postponement, this year the sixth Harvest Fest returns to its normal digs at Deerfield Road and Park Avenue, next to Jewett Park.
It's held from 4:30-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17. For those who'd like to make a full day of it, the Deerfield Farmers Market is right there at Park Avenue from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday. Parking for Harvest Fest is available at the Deerfield Metra lots and the Lindemann lot.
Children's activities are held there from 8 a.m.-noon during the farmers market, including the popular. "Touch-a-Truck." Parents may take pictures of their youngsters with police and Public Works vehicles and the big fire trucks.
"I think it just feels great to come back like that," Village of Deerfield Communications Coordinator David Fitzgerald-Sullivan said, literally and figuratively, of events like Harvest Fest.
"We've been seeing our special events, having gotten off COVID, people are coming out of the woodwork. I think people missed community events, and they're ready to get back and be with their friends and neighbors and celebrate as a community," he said.
Fitzgerald-Sullivan said several thousand people attend Harvest Fest, which began in 2016. He said the morning activities at the farmers market are more geared to children, with the likes of balloon twister and giant-bubble-maker R.J. Juggles. The afternoon and evening events are more for adults, though "everything's family friendly," Fitzgerald-Sullivan said.
That said, the beer and wine at Harvest Fest obviously is only available to people 21 and older.
Also, a bags, or corn hole, tournament is open to people ages 15 years and older. Contestants must sign up in advance for the tournament on the village website, deerfield.il.us. On the landing page, a Harvest Fest selection includes a link for registration.
There will be live entertainment scheduled to start at 4 p.m. Rosie and the Rivets, a rock 'n' roll tribute band emphasizing 1950s and '60s tunes, plays from 4-6 p.m. After that, Maggie Speaks, another a rock band with international tours under its belt, starts at 6:30 p.m.
"Both are really fun and pretty well known throughout the region," Fitzgerald-Sullivan said. "Normally, they're interactive with the crowds. It's a really good time."
Along with beer, wine and water for purchase, in the evening a variety of food trucks will roll up to Park Avenue, including Donut Jester, The Happy Lobster, Judy's Pizzeria, La Humita on Wheels, Lucky Burger, My Funnel Truck, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Tamales Express, The Wild Roaster. Several of these purveyors have been at Deerfield's Food Truck Thursdays, which have been popular this summer.
Fitzgerald-Sullivan wanted to thank sponsors of Harvest Fest - @properties, North Shore Gas, and Parkway Bank.
"And a big thank-you to the DBR Chamber of Commerce, who partners with us on this event every year. Without them, it wouldn't be the success it has been," he said.
"We hope everybody comes and joins us. It's going to be a great night."