Lakeside Festival returns to Crystal Lake with rides, food, music
Crystal Lake’s Lakeside Festival returns this week to the grounds of the Dole Mansion and Lakeside Arts Park. Highlights of the family-friendly fest include 14 bands on two outdoor stages, food, carnival rides, beer garden, superhero characters, a kids’ decorated bike parade, kids’ ice-cream social, cornhole tournament and more.
Festival hours are 3-11 p.m. Thursday, July 2; noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 3-4; and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, July 5, at The Dole, 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake. Gate admission is $10 for ages 13 and older; $5 for ages 65 and older; and free for kids younger than 12 and active military with ID.
The festival has been cashless since 2023 and accepts credit/debit cards as well as mobile pay options. Food vendors do accept cash as well. For information, visit thedole.org/the-fest.
The festival is a great way to catch some live music. The entertainment lineup includes:
• Thursday: Dangerous Joes at 3 and 7 p.m., Tennessee Whiskey at 5 p.m., and Thunderstruck at 8:30 p.m.
• Friday: Southbound at 1 p.m., Petty Kings at 4 p.m., Pino Farina Band at 6 p.m., and Hi Infidelity at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday: Judson Brown at 1 p.m., All American Throwbacks at 5 p.m., The Jolly Ringwalds at 7 p.m., and Modern Day Romeos at 8:30 p.m.
• Sunday: Yacht Rock-Ettes at noon, Crystal Lake Strikers at 2:30 p.m., Disco Circus at 3:30 p.m., Jonny Lyons & The Pride at 5:30 p.m., and Icons of Country at 6:45 p.m.
Food vendors include Plum Garden, Midwest Citrus Smashers, Chen Chinese Cuisine, Buena Vista, Georgio’s Chicago Pizza, Home Bakery/Dumpling House, Taqueria Los Cumbres, Jablonski Concessions/Mr. Funnel Cakes, The Inside Scoop, Moontime Smokin’ Que, Mama G’s, Smash’d Burgers, Your Sister’s Tomato, Bada$$ Pretzels. Soft drinks will be available, as will a beer garden, Crystal Lake Brewing and Lou’s Lounge Cocktail Tent.
Kids activities include face painting each day, an ice cream social at 1 p.m. Friday, a decorated bike parade with lineup at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, and photo ops from noon to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday with superheroes and the Chicago Wolves mascot.
A cornhole tournament takes place Saturday, with warmup at 12:30 p.m. and a 1 p.m. start time. Registered participants receive free festival admission and two drink tickets, along with cash prizes for the winners.
The festival concludes with a fireworks show at dusk Sunday.
Those interested in volunteering for a shift at the entrance gate, beer garden, security or carnival tickets can sign up at thedole.org/volunteer-lakeside-festival.