Bands to battle, big balloons to fly at Libertyville Days
There will be dancing in the street and a lot of music as one of the area's longest running festivals continues today.
Libertyville Days, the main fundraiser of the Libertville Civic Center Foundation Inc., runs through Sunday in the downtown area in and around Cook Park.
The activities begin today at noon with an arts and crafts show and carnival and continues until 11 p.m.
Music continues to be a big part of the festival. As was the case last year, the main stage is positioned on the street as opposed to the beer tent, meaning families can enjoy the shows together.
From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, local teens will compete in the popular battle of the bands. The top three bands will vie Sunday for top honors on the main stage.
"The kids really enjoy it, I think it's a good positive thing for them," said Dee Cox, volunteer coordinator for entertainment.
"We have a professional sound system this year," she added. "Our sound quality will be superior."
New for 2008 is the Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero father and child contests, with prizes awarded.
As always, there is a lot of activities for children. The kids party is today from 10 a.m. to noon at Cook Park. Admission is free with the donation of nonperishable canned food items.
The Wee Idol, for kids grades K-4 and Junior Idol, for fifth- through eighth-graders, also are back. The grand prize for the Junior Idol winner is a two-hour recording session at Lab 32 in Waukegan.
Other activities include a children's cookie bake-off, fencing academy demonstration, Brainerd Community Center open house, Taste of Libetyville and the carnival.
The annual parade is a main attraction beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday from the Metra train station south on Milwaukee Avenue to Rockland Road to Highland School. The popular event features about 100 units and seven, large helium balloons.
"I didn't buy new ones (balloons) because the price of helium tripled this year," said Terry Weppler, one of the organizers. "It's not just gas that's gone up in price."
Weppler added that the pre-sale of wrist bands for carnival rides has been eliminated this year.
Visit www.libciviccenter.org for times and details of entertainment and other activities.
Libertyville Days
Runs through Sunday in downtown Libertyville, in and around Cook Park.
TODAY
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Lions of Illinois Hearing Bus, Cook Street
10 a.m.-noon Children's party (under 8 years old), Cook Park
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Taste of Libertyville, Church Street
Noon to 11 p.m. Arts and crafts show, Cook Park; Carnival, Church Street; Guitar Hero, Cook Park
Noon-12:30 p.m. Anam Mör Irish dancers, Cook Park
2 p.m. Children's cookie bake-off, Cook Park
2-4 p.m. John Robert Powers Academy performs
2-5 p.m. Libertyville's own Mike Beck, Main stage
3 p.m. Libertyville Junior Iron Chef, Civic Center
6-11 p.m. Beer garden (21 and older)
5:30-7:30 p.m. Sockeye Slim, Main Stage
5 p.m. Libertyville Wee Idol Contest, grades K-4, Cook Park
7 p.m. Libertyville Junior Idol, grades 5-9 p.m. Cook Park
8-11 p.m. Skip Towne & The Greyhounds, all ages show, Cook Park
SATURDAY
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Lions of Illinois Hearing Bus, Cook Street
7-11 a.m. Pancake breakfast, Civic Center.
10 a.m. Libertyville Days parade, train station to Rockland Road
10-11 a.m. Arts and crafts show, Cook Park
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Taste of Libertyville, Church Street
Noon-11 p.m. Carnival, Church Street
Noon-3 p.m. Brainerd Community Center open house
12:30 p.m. McNulty Irish Dancers, Cook Park
1-11 p.m. Beer garden, Civic Center
1 p.m. John Robert Powers Academy performs, Cook Park
2 p.m. Crimson Blades Fencing Academy, Cook Pakr
1-4 p.m. Chris Bryan (all ages show). Main Stage
4:30-7:30 p.m. Loose Connection (all ages show), Main Stage
6-10 p.m. Battle of the Bands, Cook Park
8-11 p.m. Big Mowth (all ages show), Main Stage
SUNDAY
9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Corvette, Chevy and Chevy-powered Street Rods show, Libertyville Chevrolet
Noon Libertyville pageants, Cook Park
1-4 p.m. Tokyo Fish Market, Main Stage
1-6 p.m. Arts and Crafts show, Cook Park; Carnival, Church Street; Beer Garden (family hours), Civic Center; Taste of Libertyville, Church Street; Father/Child Guitar Hero contest, Cook Park
2-6 p.m. John Robert Powers Academy performs, Cook Park
4-6 p.m. Top 3 Battle of the Bands, Cook Park