Eyes in the Skies gets new look
Organizers took a fresh look at the annual Lisle Eyes to the Skies Festival this year and came up with an updated, innovative and even more family friendly event.
Visitors should watch for a terrific musical lineup, an expanded children's area, the addition of an art tent and eyes looking skyward for more than the traditional 20 hot-air balloons.
The pleasant surprises begin with lower admission prices. In a budget-strained economy, adult admission is $5 daily before 5 p.m. and $7 after. Ages 5 to 12 years are $2. Discounted packets and combined tickets are available.
A whole new look awaits concertgoers. For the first time, patrons on the Community Park hill will have more square footage to spread out their picnic blankets while facing north toward an expanded stage down on the opposite side of the hill.
New is a separate concert ticket charge of $10 in advance and $12 at the gate for headline performers such as country star Blake Shelton, rock group Kansas, teen heartthrob Drake Bell and American Idol finalist Bucky Covington appearing with the Colgate Country Showdown.
All other entertainment on festival grounds is included in general admission. Performing at the Evviva! Cabaret are 25 popular regional groups such as 7th Heaven, Bang Band and Neverly Brothers.
The enlarged children's area opens at noon daily with a stage of its own. Radio Disney Party Patrol performs at 1 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. From 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, "Camp Rock" fans will get a chance to meet Alyson Stoner and Meahgan Jette Martin.
Other children's area performers include the Scribble Books Company, Jodi Koplin of Jiggle Jam, Jesse White Tumblers, the Atomic Gumdrops, Up for Grabs Juggling and magician Randall Bernstein.
The Lumberjack shows return and a gentler petting zoo debuts. The children's area will have kid-friendly food, along with good-natured volunteers to help with hands-on kid games, crafts, face painting, tattoos, jugglers and more.
Great Clips will do a charity cut-athon from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at which Ronald McDonald will make an appearance.
Two additions in the children's area will dazzle all ages.
In the Lisle Eyes to the Skies L.E.T.S. Do Art Tent, artists will demonstrate and sell art. Some will offer hands-on opportunities. Bringing art to life are: Marjorie Boyd in pen and paints, Revise CMW on a wall-size mural, Luisa Castellanos with plush toys, Nancy D'Agostino in acrylics, Ladan Ghajar on surrealism, Joseph Hernandez in clay, Elizabeth Hladky with oils and acrylics, D. Anne Jones in charcoal and pastel, Quinlan Kyp-Johnson in photography and wire sculpture, Laura Lein-Svencer in papermaking and collage, and Jennifer Paolinelli with jewelry. Steve and Susie Hoskins create hot air balloons from recycled light bulbs. A complete schedule will be posted outside the tent.
If inspiration hits, organizers hope people of all ages will take part in Illinois's longest public art project. Each 12-by-12 inch cedar panel is $5 and will attach to another to form a serpentine flow of art. Proceeds go to charity.
Prepare to be amazed looking up at the outdoor circus aerial stunt show. The Espana Extreme Aerial Stunt Show will perform three 30-minute shows daily on the high wire.
Stepping away from the children's area, you need to be 18 or older to try your skills at Cornhole, alias Beanbag. The official rules are those of the American Cornhole Association. Throughout the four-day tournament, players will toss bags aimed at a little open circle in a single-elimination contest. Proceeds from the registration fee after prize money is dispensed and from a silent auction of the artistic boards that will go to Operation Support Our Troops.
As part of the carnival, cow-poking folks can climb aboard a Percheron, which is a supersized horse with a built-for-two saddle, for a small fee.
If your fun runs on food, there is an increase in the number of vendors this year. Evviva! Cabaret has tables and chairs and is a great location for watching the balloons.
The hot air balloons are still what makes this festival special. Twenty balloons including the popular pink Energizer bunny-shaped balloon will launch at 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. each day, weather permitting. There is no cost to enter the festival grounds and park in nearby lots for the morning launch.
The serenity of seeing the balloons sail into the early morning sky is awesome.
Bring your chair, camera, a friend, the Daily Herald and a cup of coffee and wait to see if weather conditions are favorable to safely launch the balloons. The announcer on site keeps the audience informed.
Two tethered balloons offer rides. One charges a fee to ride from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Serena's Song offers free rides for people with disabilities. The balloon glow is at 8:15 p.m. All balloon activities are weather permitting.
Eyes will to look up for the Woodland Aero model airplane exhibitions from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and "180 Go" synchronized stunt kite fliers on Thursday and Sunday.
In addition to the festival craft fair, carnival, Battle of the Bands, Lumberjack sports camp and spectacular nightly fireworks; there is a virtual trip of Texas on Tour, Jeep and Dodge test drive areas and a special tribute each day at noon at the Veteran's Memorial by the stone bridge to honor Bill Kubes, Hazel Van Kampen, Joe Schroyer and Jerry Neuberg, who each made a significant contribution of time and talents to this festival over the years.
Each day at the festival, seniors and the less able should watch for the Gator Guy for free transportation services in the cute green cart.
Lisle residents with proof of residency receive free admission to the festival on July 4 before 3 p.m. Be sure to have your hand stamped for re-admission after the Lisle 4th of July Parade at 3:30 p.m. just outside the West festival entrance.
The best advice regarding the festival is to pick up a Lisle Eyes to the Skies Festival and a Children's Area Schedule brochure and buy cost-saving tickets at many Lisle locations and online at eyestotheskiesfestival.com. Then enter the park before 5 p.m.
Lisle Community Park is on Short Street between Yackley Avenue and Route 53 in Lisle. Gates open in just a few days.
Joan Broz writes about Lisle on Mondays in Neighbor. E-mail her at jgbroz@aol.com.
Eyes to the Skies
WEDNESDAY
5 to 11 p.m. Carnival open
THURSDAY
Noon Festival, carnival, craft fair, food court open
Noon-11 p.m. Let's Do Art tent open in the children's area
Noon-7 p.m. Children's area games and petting zoo open
Noon-4 p.m. 180 Go synchronized kites on the balloon field
Noon Jugglers in the children's area
1-2:30 p.m. Radio Disney show in the children's area
2:15 p.m. All-American Lumberjack Show followed by chain-saw carving in the children's area
3 p.m. Espana Extreme Aerial Stunt Show & Circus in the children's area
3 p.m. Stereo Adrenaline on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
3:30-4:15 p.m. Magician in the children's area
4:15 p.m. All-American Lumberjack Show followed by chain-saw carving in the children's area
5 p.m. Kids Lumberjack Sports Camp in the children's area
5 p.m. Espana Extreme Aerial Stunt Show & Circus in the children's area
5 p.m. Coming Soon Band on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
5:30-6:15 p.m. Scribble Books Trio performance in the children's area
6:15 p.m. All-American Lumberjack Show followed by chain-saw carving in the children's area
6:30 p.m. Balloon launch on the balloon field
6:30-8:30 p.m. Tethered balloon rides on the balloon field
7 p.m. Espana Extreme Aerial Stunt Show & Circus in the children's area
7 p.m. Rock Candy on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
8 p.m. Blake Shelton on the main stage
8:15 p.m. Balloon glow on the balloon field
9 p.m. 7th Heaven on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
9:45 p.m. Fireworks
11 p.m. Festival closes
FRIDAY
5:30 a.m. Balloon launch on the balloon field
Noon Festival, carnival, craft fair, food court open
Noon-11 p.m. Let's Do Art tent open in the children's area; bean bag tournament
Noon-7 p.m. Children's area games and petting zoo open
Noon-4 p.m. Woodland Aero Modlers model airplanes on the balloon field
Noon Magician in the children's area
1-2:30 p.m. Radio Disney show in the children's area
2:15 p.m. All-American Lumberjack Show followed by chain-saw carving in the children's area
3 p.m. Espana Extreme Aerial Stunt Show & Circus in the children's area
3 p.m. Hanna Ford Band on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
3:30 p.m. Fourth of July Parade on Short Street
4:15 p.m. All-American Lumberjack Show followed by chain-saw carving in the children's area
5 p.m. Espana Extreme Aerial Stunt Show & Circus in the children's area
5 p.m. Woogie Band on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
5:30 p.m. Atomic Gumdrops performance in the children's area
6:15 p.m. All-American Lumberjack Show followed by chain-saw carving in the children's area
6:30 p.m. Balloon launch on the balloon field
6:30-8:30 p.m. Tethered balloon rides on the balloon field
7 p.m. Espana Extreme Aerial Stunt Show & Circus in the children's area
7 p.m. Bang Band on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
8 p.m. Kansas on the main stage
8:15 p.m. Balloon glow on the balloon field
9 p.m. AVM on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
9:45 p.m. Fireworks
11 p.m. Festival closes
SATURDAY
5:30 a.m. Balloon launch on the balloon field
Noon Festival, carnival, craft fair, food court open
Noon-11 p.m. Let's Do Art tent open in the children's area; bean bag tournament
Noon-7 p.m. Children's area games and petting zoo open
Noon-4 p.m. Woodland Aero Modlers model airplanes on the balloon field
Noon Jugglers in the children's area
1-2 p.m. Radio Disney show in the children's area
2-4 p.m. Disney Channel Meet 'n' Greet in the children's area
2:15 p.m. All-American Lumberjack Show followed by chain-saw carving in the children's area
3 p.m. Espana Extreme Aerial Stunt Show & Circus in the children's area
3 p.m. Neverly Brothers on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
3:30 p.m. Magician in the children's area
4:15 p.m. All-American Lumberjack Show followed by chain-saw carving in the children's area
5 p.m. Kids Lumberjack Sports Camp in the children's area
5 p.m. Jesse White Tumblers in the children's area
5 p.m. Bad Medicine on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
5:30 p.m. Atomic Gumdrops performance in the children's area
6:15 p.m. All-American Lumberjack Show followed by chain-saw carving in the children's area
6:30 p.m. Balloon launch on the balloon field
6:30-8:30 p.m. Tethered balloon rides on the balloon field
7 p.m. Espana Extreme Aerial Stunt Show & Circus in the children's area
7 p.m. Kimi Hayes Band on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
8 p.m. Drake Bell (of Disney Channel's "Drake & Josh") on the main stage
8:15 p.m. Balloon glow on the balloon field
9 p.m. Too White Crew on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
9:45 p.m. Fireworks
11 p.m. Festival closes
SUNDAY
5:30 a.m. Balloon launch on the balloon field
Noon Festival, carnival, craft fair, food court open
Noon-11 p.m. Let's Do Art tent open in the children's area; bean bag tournament
Noon-7 p.m. Children's area games and petting zoo open
Noon-4 p.m. 180 Go synchronized kite on the balloon field
12:30 p.m. Jugglers in the children's area
1 p.m. Espana Extreme Aerial Stunt Show & Circus in the children's area
2:15 p.m. All-American Lumberjack Show followed by chain-saw carving in the children's area
3 p.m. Espana Extreme Aerial Stunt Show & Circus in the children's area
3 p.m. Guided Path on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
4:15 p.m. All-American Lumberjack Show followed by chain-saw carving in the children's area
5 p.m. Espana Extreme Aerial Stunt Show & Circus in the children's area
5 p.m. Kids Lumberjack Sports Camp in the children's area
5 p.m. Nebula Forming on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
5:30 p.m. Jiggle Jam performance in the children's area
6:15 p.m. All-American Lumberjack Show followed by chain-saw carving in the children's area
7 p.m. Chicago-area finals of the Colgate Country Showdown on the main stage
7 p.m. Play Doctors on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
8 p.m. Bucky Covington on the main stage
9 p.m. Elevation on the Evviva! Cabaret stage
9:45 p.m. Fireworks
11 p.m. Festival closes