Eyes wraps up three days of fun on the ground and in the air

Eyes to the Skies is a festival that literally begs you to look up.

With its signature hot-air balloon launches, your gaze drifts to the sky as you follow the flight of the colorful balloons. With its nightly fireworks, you trace the path of each mortar to be rewarded with the glowing blooms.

But if you only looked skyward at Eyes, you missed quite a bit that happened on terra firma.

Eyes to the Skies wrapped up its three-day tribute to Independence Day on Sunday, but not before bringing an array of sights, sounds and experiences - both sky-based and grounded - to Lisle's Community Park.

Headliners Thompson Square and Bighead Todd and the Monsters rocked the main stage while a lineup of regional acts on two stages provided the soundtrack for the weekend.

A craft fair and vendors expo drew adults' attention, but kids couldn't wait to get their hands on the activities in the children's area. There they could make crafts, experiment with science and check out sports teams, martial arts, trampolining and sky diving. And all the while, there was entertainment in the children's area - princess visits, puppet shows and even motorcycle acrobatics.

And then, after a day of festival action and carnival rides and visits to the food court (with a menu that included fried festival fare, foods on sticks and Mediterranean, Mexican and Italian gastronomic adventures), the event reminded visitors what has set it apart from other suburban fairs for 34 years.

Once again, Eyes to the Skies asked visitors to look up - for one last balloon launch, for one more balloon glow, for one final fireworks show to be remembered until next year.