Palatine Jaycees already planning Hometown Fest 2024

Planning for the annual Palatine Jaycees’ Hometown Fest is well underway for this year’s Independence Day celebration.

“The work begins as early as November to get everything ready for Hometown Fest,” said Meriel Loquasto, the 2024 vice president of community development. “We have a committee of 25 volunteers working in their spare time to plan this year’s event.”

The Palatine Jaycees host Hometown Fest, held every summer, is one of the only free-to-attend Fourth of July celebrations in the Chicago area. All proceeds from the event are put directly into the organization’s community budget.

“We fund all of our community projects through the festival,” Loquasto explained. “Our annual scholarship awards, our community grants, Thanksgiving meal donations, Easter basket donations and many more projects that benefit the Palatine area community are only possible because of the funds this project raises. All of the other costs of our organization are obtained through separate fundraising. This is only for the community.”

Every year Hometown Fest provides carnival rides, live music, fireworks, a variety of food vendors, a parade, a crafter and vendor expo and more. The event is held at Community Park near downtown Palatine.

This year will feature a Firework Show on Friday, July 5 and a parade on Saturday, July 6.

Scheduled musical performers include Radio Gaga, Mike and Joe, Feudin’ Hillbillies, 7th Heaven, Bucket Number Six and many more.

A schedule of events and programming, including a schedule of live performances can be found at palatinejaycees.org/hometown-fest.