Frontier Days remembers the '80s

The '80s rock band Night Ranger opened the main stage Wednesday at Frontier Days nearly 45 minutes late.

But fans like Jennifer Schillaci of Elk Grove Village, who had laid her blanket down as early as 7 a.m., didn't seem to mind.

"They sound just like they did back in the '80s," Schillaci said.

Another longtime fan, Eileen Longo of Schaumburg, said just hearing Night Rider again made her high school days come rushing back.

"It makes you feel young again," Longo said.

The band's late start mirrored the delayed opening of the 33-year festival in Arlington Heights, which for the first time in its history had to execute its emergency evacuation plan at the start of the run, when a severe thunderstorm tore through the area.

"We've had to evacuate people before at the end of the run, but never at the start like this," said Jeani Cunningham, co-chairman. "Now, it's over. We anticipate having a great festival."

Fans of the band filled less than a quarter of the infield grass area, leading Arlington Heights police to estimate a crowd of around 1,200. Organizers conceded the inclement weather had kept some people away, but they predicted smooth sailing ahead.

Bill Peery, who booked the main stage entertainment, thinks the biggest crowd will come out at 8 p.m. Saturday, to hear Dennis DeYoung, a founding member of the rock band Styx.

Some of their biggest entertainers have drawn as many as 10,000 people in the past, Peery said.

Up-and-coming bands found Wednesday's storm, and its aftermath, disappointing. The emergency evacuation caused Frontier Days officials to cancel the teenage battle of the bands, and due to the tightly scheduled lineup it will not be remounted, Peery said.

"There were no more time slots tonight," Peery said, "and many of the bands have other commitments throughout the weekend, so unfortunately we've had to cancel it."

That came as a blow to the band Ophiuchus, whose members had traveled from Doylestown, Penn, after hearing they had earned the gig on the strength of their demo tape.

"We were so ready to play," said Adrian Davis, lead vocalist. "We just want to play."

Frontier Days continues from 5 p.m. to midnight today, from 10 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, with the festival's Stampede Run starting at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday. Admission to the festival is free.