Heritage Fest features music, crafts fair, car show and more
Heritage Fest returns for its 27th year on Sept. 12-14. This three-day community festival in West Dundee includes live music, arts and craft fair, car show, food, 5K and more.
Festival hours are 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in downtown West Dundee. Admission is free.
Music stage
The entertainment lineup offers something for everyone! Local and national musicians, cover bands and many others will perform on the main stage downtown.
Bad Motor Scooter, a Sammy Hagar tribute band, will open the festival stage at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by the 1980s rock cover band Hi Infidelity at 9 p.m.
On Saturday, the East Dundee band Crossover will perform classic rock, country and blues at 10 a.m.
Cesare Salad and the Spicy Croutons, led by guitarist and vocalist Cesare, will be bringing their high-energy blues and rock 'n' roll to the stage at 11:30 a.m.
At 1:30 p.m., festival favorite, the Bishop Super Band returns, having performed at Heritage Fest every year since 2015. The band features staff, students and friends of the late Matt Bishop, founder of the band and a Dundee Middle School music teacher who died in February 2024 at age 34.
Nick Wilkinson & the Featured Players will be playing alternative and indie music at 3 p.m.
At 4:30 p.m., The Sofa Kings, a cover band with a focus on the 1990s, takes the stage. The rock/country band Sixes & Sevens will be the openers at 6:30 p.m. for the classic rock headliners ARRA at 9 p.m.
On Sunday, Eric Case will be performing Americana, classic country, and soulful rock 'n' roll at 10 a.m.
The Brandon Reisdorf Quartet, featuring the folk-rock songwriter from Carpentersville, will take the stage at 11:30 a.m.
Theater on the Fox will perform an excerpt from “Into the Woods” at 12:40 p.m.
West Dundee's very own folk rock band, Controlled Burn, will take the stage at 1:30 p.m. The Lennys! will close out the three-day festival with family-friendly rock from the 1950s through today at 3 p.m.
Heritage Fest Car Show
The popular Heritage Fest Car Show features souped up vehicles both new and old — any year, make or model are welcome, including antique, originals, customs, rat rods, street/strip, trucks & motorcycles.
With each day come new vehicles and lots of prizes, including Spectator’s Choice, so come out and vote for your favorite ride!
The Car Show sets up along South Second Street in West Dundee, beginning on the 100 South block by village hall, and extending toward Liberty Street. Car show hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
JP Car Shows, who put on car shows all over the greater Chicago area and Northern Illinois, manage this annual show. The Sunday show includes a celebrity guest judge, Jaime Hjelm from the Netflix series “Tex Mex Motors.”
The Boy Scouts will set up a food tent in front of village hall serving grilled goodies, chips and cold beverages.
Arts & crafts fair
Each year, about 100 artisans display their handmade wares as part of the Heritage Fest Art & Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. In years past, exhibitors have presented apparel, jewelry, soaps, floral decor, stained glass, watercolors, aprons, metal art, primitive and country crafts, ceramics, dog goodies, dips and honeys, fine woodworking, knitting, felted items, bottle art and tie dye, among many other things.
Located along the banks of the Fox River, the fair begins at Second and Washington in West Dundee and continues along the Riverwalk up Lincoln Ave toward the footbridge that connects East Dundee and West Dundee.
Business and NFP Expo
The Heritage Fest Business & Not-For-Profit Expo highlights over 20 local companies and organizations that serve the community, as well as event sponsors who have contributed to making this weekend possible.
Downtown you will find a variety of offerings including games and activities for the kids, spinning wheels, raffle drawings, giveaways, dunk tanks, specialty items, and more. There's a little something for everyone! Expo hours are 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Kids’ activities
Returning this year will be the bungee trampoline and a bouncy house. Make your first stop at the Business and NFP Expo for the Dundee Township Park District booth where there will be sand art for Saturday and a new table top carnival games for Sunday.
A face painter will be stationed within the Business and NFP Expo. Kids will also enjoy playing games and winning prizes at many of the booths in this immediate area.
5K run
On Saturday, the Dundee Township Lions Club and the Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce are hosting the annual 5K run and 1.75 mile walk from downtown West Dundee south to South End Park and returning through East Dundee. Proceeds support local charities and businesses, as well as fulfilling eyeglass needs for children in Community Unit District 300. It will begin at 8 a.m. Register online at raceroster.com through Sept. 13 for $49.54 for the 5K and $22.85 for the 1.75-mile walk.
Pancake breakfast
Each year, the Dundee Lions Club kicks off the final day of Heritage Fest by hosting Community Pancake Breakfast on Sunday morning under the main tent.
The breakfast menu includes pancakes, sausage links, biscuits and gravy, juice and coffee served buffet style. In addition to a hearty breakfast, there’s live entertainment by the Starlites Jazz Combo.
Proceeds from the modest ticket prices (children under 3 eat free) go to the Dundee Lions Club’s Sight and Sound Fund.
It will be 8 to 10:30 a.m. in the tent downtown, north of Main Street (Route 72) between First and Second streets, near the Village Squire.
More details can be found on wdundeeheritagefest.org or facebook.com/WDundeeHeritageFest.