Frontier Days, a favorite Arlington Heights summer tradition, returns
Get ready for five days of music and fun. The 49th annual Frontier Days returns to Arlington Heights amid ongoing renovations to its longtime home at Recreation Park.
Frontier Days has been chosen as the best festival in the Northwest suburbs by Daily Herald readers, and received the Governor’s Hometown Award three times.
The fest, which takes place Wednesday, July 2, through Sunday, July 6, features three stages of family entertainment, food, drinks, carnival rides and activities for all ages. The fest also sponsors the Arlington Heights July Fourth parade, which takes place at 10 a.m. July 4. It steps off from Dunton and Oakton, travels south on Dunton to Miner, and then east to Recreation Park and the festival.
Pat Peery, president of the festival’s board of directors, has been involved in the volunteer-run event for 44 years.
“It’s a wonderful community event,” she said. “It means a great deal to see families come down and see the smiles on their faces. The committee is a wonderful group of people of all ages and abilities, and that’s why I stay.”
New entertainment acts, pony rides and a petting zoo will debut this year. However, most changes have occurred in the festival’s layout.
“Because the park is being redone, we’ve had to move some of our events and activities to fit into the new park arrangement,” Peery said.
Her favorite event is Citizens with Disabilities Day, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 5. Individuals with disabilities and family members are invited for complimentary carnival rides, lunch and entertainment.
Among the 10 food vendors that will be serving up dishes at the fest are Chicago Culinary Kitchen, Taco Factory, Genoa Italian and Greek Street Food.
Main stage entertainment kicks off with popular local band 7th heaven playing hits from the ’80s to the present at 8 p.m. July 2.
National touring bands Dishwalla and BoDeans perform at 8 p.m. July 3 and July 4, respectively. Taking the stage at 8 p.m. July 5 is Bruce in the USA, billed as the world's No. 1 tribute to Bruce Springsteen.
The festival ends with Beatles tribute band American English at 7:30 p.m. July 6.
Other highlights include interactive activities like Baggo, Bingo, face painting, pickleball, hockey, volleyball and the annual Stampede races. The arts and crafts fair returns July 5-6 with 75 vendors.
The festival has grown immensely since 1976, Peery said.
“We’ve added many more activities,” she said. “Our attendance has grown a lot. We definitely get over 100,000 people in five days.”
Giving back to the community is an important part of the fest, Peery added. Frontier Days has donated more than $2.5 million over the years, according to the festival’s website. It also has a scholarship program, which began more than 20 years ago.
Frontier Days, Inc., a nonprofit organization with 400 members and 1,600 volunteers, makes it possible.
“We’re ready to roll,” Peery said. “And we’re going to have a great time.”
For more information and a full schedule, visit frontierdays.org.