Batavia's Windmill City Festival changes schedule

The Windmill City Festival in Batavia has changed its schedule in an effort to better deal with all the traffic.

In years past, the festival has lasted from Thursday to Saturday, but this year, Thursday has been removed and Sunday added.

"Ten years ago, about 4,000 visited each year, and this time we're expecting 13,000, as it has morphed from a small grass roots event into a major Tri-Cities event," said Allison Sohr, director of marketing and public relations for the Batavia Park District.

Originally called the Boo boo festival, it operated as a scratch and dent flea market for local merchants to sell their slightly damaged wares. It shifted to a full festival after the Batavia Park District got involved and began seeking sponsorships and hiring entertainment.

The name changed to the Batavia Windmill City Festival just over a decade ago, to honor the city's history as being the world capitol of windmills.

"In 1863, the U.S. Wind, Engine and Pump Company moved to Batavia, and at its peak, there were six companies in town producing windmills," said Carla Hill, director of the Batavia Depot Museum.

While some events at the parade will specifically honor the town's windmill history, most will not.

Saturday's main event will be the pet parade at 10 a.m.

"We get all types of animals, not just dogs and cats. One year we had a hen lay an egg in the middle of the parade, and it was over 90 degrees, so we were worried it would cook right on the street," Sohr said.

Sunday will feature the ice cream eating contest, called "Get your mind in the gutter." A 20-foot long rain gutter will act as a glorified trough as contestants try to eat as much ice cream as possible as judges look on.

"We are using Superman Blue ice cream, so their faces will be all blue for the rest of the day from the contest," Sohr said.

Entertainment will include musical bands of all types each night of the festival.

At 6 p.m. Friday, the Michael Heaton band will play rock, country and classic pop from the 1970s and 1980s.

At 8:30 p.m., Dot, Dot, Dot will play a mix of cover and original songs. The group has been featured on Fox News Chicago and MTV 2.

Saturday at 6 p.m., the Lazy Maybes will play every type of music from country to hip hop to funk, followed by the 80s hair band cover group Lounge Puppets at 8:30 p.m.

The last afternoon of the festival is reserved for tribute bands.

The Beatles cover band Cavern Beat will play at 2 p.m. Sunday, with the Jimmy Buffett tribute band finishing off the festival at 5 p.m.

Festival hours will be 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 10; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 11, and noon to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 12.

For more details, call the Batavia Park District at (630) 879-5235 or visit bataviaparks.org.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=305246">Hand-carved cane is woodcarving group's contribution to charity <span class="date">[7/8/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <p class="factboxheadblack">Batavia's City Windmill Festival</p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 10; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 11, and noon to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 12.</p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> All around Batavia.</p> <p class="News"><b>How much?</b> Free</p> <p class="News"><b>Info:</b> (630) 879-5235 or <a href="http://www.bataviaparks.org" target="new">bataviaparks.org</a></p>