Annual Railroad Days festival to kick off in West Chicago
Summer fun will really start chugging along this weekend in West Chicago as the city celebrates Railroad Days.
The four-day festival opens from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday, July 12, at Pioneer Park, 479 W. Forest Ave., and will feature a carnival, beer garden, food vendors, free outdoor concerts and a parade. It will continue from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 13; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 14; and 2:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday, July 15.
"We have a great lineup of entertainment for all four days," said David Sabathne, president and CEO of the Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the annual event.
Sabathne said the festival helps bring the community together to celebrate the city's heritage and gives visitors a chance to experience all West Chicago has to offer.
"This gives them an opportunity to come in and see what West Chicago is all about," he said.
Sabathne said Pioneer Park is a beautiful location with plenty of room for the carnival and about 16 rides.
"There's a bunch of stuff for little kids," he said. "The older kids have the bigger rides. There's enough for everybody to get a thrill."
If taking a spin on the rides makes you hungry, 10 vendors will be selling food, including some healthy choices along with the usual assortment of burgers, bratwurst, curly fries, funnel cakes and other festival mainstays.
When it comes to live music, Railroad Days organizers have booked a list of acts to perform through the weekend.
The G Band will be the first group to perform at 6 p.m. Thursday.
OMT will take the stage at 6:45 p.m. Friday, followed by The Rack & The Riddler at 8:15 p.m.
On Saturday, the Rolling Stones tribute band Beggars Banquet will perform at 5 p.m. Then there will be a 7 p.m. show by Journeyman, a tribute to Eric Clapton. The last concert of the night will start at 9 p.m. when Shining Star - a tribute to Earth, Wind and Fire - hits the stage.
On Sunday, Sammy and the Knights will perform at 4 p.m. followed by Chicago Latin Groove at 6 p.m.
"It's a great atmosphere," Sabathne said. "To sit in a nice park and listen to free concerts, that's summer."
Meanwhile, the parade - the highlight of the festival - steps off at 1 p.m. Sunday from Ingalton and Elmwood avenues.
Roughly 50 parade entries will travel south on Ingalton, west on Washington Street, north on Arbor Street and then end at Arbor and National Street. The procession will include fire trucks, floats and the West Chicago Community High School band.
Sabathne said many of the parade participants are expected to hand out candy along the route. "It ends up being like trick-or-treating without having to move," he said.
For more information - including details about a free shuttle bus service - visit westerndupagechamber.com and follow the link to Railroad Days.