Rolling Meadows 2026 events: Meadows Fest rocks on, but Hoedown gets the boot

Rolling Meadows officials plan to bring back the popular Meadows Fest next year after its successful inaugural three-day weekend in 2025.

But gone is the Hometown Hoedown Fall Fest and Bites & Beats due to drops in attendance.

Those are among the changes to the city’s proposed 2026 community events calendar unveiled last week.

The Rolling Meadows Community Events Foundation board, which includes Alderwoman Karen McHale, Assistant to the City Manager Lori Ciezak and residents, is expected to finalize the event list later this month.

The committee will be tasked with finding a different weekend for Meadows Fest instead of Sept. 11-13, since the event would fall on the Rosh Hashanah Jewish holiday in 2026.

Officials rolled out the fest last September at Kimball Hill Park in recognition of the city’s 70th anniversary.

“(It) turned out to be such a success that we’ve had numerous countless requests of, ‘Bring it back for next year,’” said City Manager Rob Sabo.

The city, park district and primary sponsor Rep’s Place sports bar split the cost of the fest three ways. Sabo said the annual city budget includes money for such community events, while foundation funds and sponsorships help offset expenses.

The popularity of Meadows Fest may have led to smaller crowds at Hometown Hoedown at Kimball Hill Park only a few weeks later, Sabo acknowledged, so the foundation board is recommending elimination, or at least a pause, of the latter in 2026.

So, too, will officials cut the monthly Wednesday night Bites & Beats food trucks and music events over the summer.

They will, however, add one more FRIDAYS ROCK & Roll in Meadows night in June to make it a three-month summer concert series.

Besides Meadows Fest, here is a list of the proposed events in 2026:

• May 9: Fire Department pancake breakfast and Garden Club plant sale from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Park Central; Family Services Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at East Park Apartment Complex.

• May 16: Public Works Department open house from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• May 26: Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m.

• June 5: Block Party from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Central Road by the high school.

• June 19: FRIDAYS ROCK & Roll in Meadows from 6 to 10 p.m. at Kimball Hill Park.

• July 4: Parade steps off at 11:30 a.m. from the high school parking lot; fireworks at 9:30 p.m. at the Community Center’s back parking lot.

• July 17: FRIDAYS ROCK & Roll in Meadows.

• Aug. 4: National Night Out from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Community Center lot.

• Aug. 14: FRIDAYS ROCK & Roll in Meadows.

• Sept. 26: Bike Party from 10 a.m. to noon at a location to be determined.

• Oct. 10: Fire Department open house from 10 a.m. to noon at Station 15.

• Nov. 6: Veterans Dinner from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Meridian Banquets.

• Dec. 3: Holiday Celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. at the city hall parking lot.