West Dundee's Heritage Fest expects 7,000 over three days

Civil War reenacting runs in Naperville native Bill Birzetis' family. His father portrayed a colonel in the Union Army, with a blue jacket and an eagle on either shoulder signifying his rank.

When Birzetis' father died, his ashes were shot out of four Civil War-era cannons in Keokuk, Iowa, which had been a medical outpost for Union soldiers. During the ceremony, two eagles reminiscent of the ones on his uniform flew over the Mississippi River in Keokuk.

Birzetis and his fellow re-enactors in the Chicagoland Artillery told their stories in Union Army duds while feeding a small campfire Saturday in Grafelman Park for the 10th annual Heritage Fest.

This is the fourth year West Dundee has organized Heritage Fest. Notably absent is East Dundee, which had participated in years past but took a pass this year because of funding issues.

But Heritage Fest was no poorer for the absence of its neighbor across the river. The event sprawled across West Dundee's downtown, with everything from teen bands and antique vendors in Grafelman Park to locally brewed beer and a magic show by the riverfront.

New this year were the re-enactors, who provided the missing historical piece of the Heritage Fest puzzle, officials said.

"We put more heritage in the Heritage Fest," Village Administrator Joe Cavallaro said.

With 7,000 local residents expected to visit the three-day festival, this year's Heritage Fest had more local businesses and vendors than in years past.

"We're getting a lot more involvement from the downtown businesses, which is key," Cavallaro said.

One of them, Emmet's Ale House, set up a counter in the beer tent Saturday, selling a sampling of its locally brewed beers -- from its American Wheat to its popular Oatmeal Stout.

"We always wanted to be in it in a big way," brewmaster Ryan Clooney said. "They were gracious enough to allow us."

The village's efforts did not go unnoticed. West Dundee resident Pam Griffin stood in Grafelman Park with a couple friends, listening to the teen band 33 1/3 rock out on classics made popular by Credence Clearwater Revival and the Rolling Stones.

"The entertainment, the down-home feel -- it's just a Norman Rockwell picture," Griffin said.

The festival continues today with the Lion's Club Community Breakfast in the morning, a classic car show and performances from local dance groups.