Gurnee Days returns with live music, food trucks, parade

Gurnee Days, the annual end-of-summer celebration hosted by the Gurnee Park District, will take place Friday through Sunday, Aug. 7-9. The festival, featuring live music, fireworks, a parade and more, will take place in Viking Park, 4374 Old Grand Ave., Gurnee.

Food trucks and a beer garden will be available all three days. Adult bingo will be held on Friday and Saturday for $1 per sheet; and free family bingo and Loteria/Family Bingo for $1 per card (one card per person) on Saturday.

The Gurnee Days Parade will take place at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, beginning at North Greenleaf Street, continuing west on Old Grand Avenue and ending at Emerald Avenue, with the 2026 Gurnee Days Honoree, Gurnee resident Gale Graves, at the grand marshal.

There will be a fireworks display at 9 p.m. Saturday.

Other festival highlights include a bike rodeo on Friday; Community Art Show on Friday and Saturday; KidZone and TeenZone activity areas, Fire and Police Department and Public Works open houses, and an ice cream eating contest on Saturday; and a car show from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and “Battle of the Badges” softball game at noon Sunday.

The KidZone will offer a variety of rides and inflatable experiences with the option to purchase wristbands for unlimited access to select attractions and individual purchase options for go-karts. The TeenZone, hosted by the Warren Township Teen Center, will include Kindness Rock decorating from 12:30-6:30 p.m. (while supplies last), a three-point basketball shoot-out from 12:30-5 p.m., open court dodge ball from 1-4 p.m. and mechanical bull rides from 1-5 p.m.

The car show on Sunday will include a Touch-A-Truck experience hosted by Line Rodz. The Kenosha R/C Club will also showcase demonstrations, races and hands-on experiences.

Live music includes Dave & Taro at 6 p.m. on the Beer Garden stage and Beyond the Blonde at 8 p.m. on the Main Stage on Friday; and Matt Nanke at noon, The Pelvis Brothers at 2:30 p.m. and Aidan Burke at 6 p.m. on the Beer Garden Stage and Mackenzie O’Brien at 5:15 p.m. and All American Throwbacks at 8 p.m. on the Main Stage on Saturday. Gurnee’s Got Talent will take place at 2-3 p.m. Saturday on the Main Stage.

Admission is free; some activities require additional fees. For details visit gurneeparkdistrict.com/gurnee-days.

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Gurnee Days schedule

Most events take place in Viking Park, 4374 Old Grand Ave., Gurnee.

Friday, Aug. 7

1-3 p.m. Bike Rodeo hosted by the Gurnee Police Department

6-8 p.m. Community Art Show

6-8 p.m. Dave & Taro perform

6-10 p.m. Food booths and food trucks; beer garden

7-8 p.m. Gurnee Days Honoree meet and greet

7-8:30 p.m. Adult bingo

7:30-9:30 p.m. Jr. High Pool Party at Hunt Club Park Aquatic Center

8-9:45 p.m. Beyond the Blonde performs

Saturday, Aug. 8

9:30 a.m. Parade

10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Gurnee Fire Department open house and Gurnee Public Works open house

11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Food booths and food trucks

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. DJ music

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Gurnee Police Department open house

Noon Helicopter landing at Gurnee Police Department

Noon to 2 p.m. Matt Nanke performs

Noon to 6 p.m. KidZone: Amusement Area

Noon to 6 p.m. Sponsor and vendor booths

Noon to 8 p.m. Community Art Show

Noon to 11 p.m. Beer garden

12:30-1:30 p.m. Family Bingo

12:30-6:30 p.m. TeenZone activities

1-4 p.m. Mother Rudd open house

1:30-5 p.m. Dunk Tank

2-3 p.m. Gurnee’s Got Talent

2-4 p.m. Loteria/Family Bingo

2-5:15 p.m. DJ and contests

2:30-5:30 p.m. The Pelvis Brothers perform

3 p.m. Ice cream eating contest

4:30-6:30 p.m. Adult Bingo

5:15-7:15 p.m. Mackenzie O’Brien Band performs

6-9 p.m. Aidan Burke performs

8-10:30 p.m. All American Throwbacks perform

9 p.m. Fireworks

Sunday, Aug. 9

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Car show and food trucks

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Beer garden

Noon “Battle of the Badges” softball game