Lindenhurst festival plugs along in its 27th year

Lindenhurst will be jumpin' for the 27th Lindenfest celebration.

The annual event, which features a carnival, bands, a parade and a variety of food and activities, keeps plugging along as a popular local event.

"How do we keep going? Great volunteers each and every year," said Kim Henning, a member of the not-for-profit Lindenfest committee and the parade director.

Festivities run from Thursday, Aug. 12, through Sunday, Aug. 15, at the village hall/post office, 2301 E. Sand Lake Road.

Highlights begin Thursday with the crowning at 6 p.m. of the new village pageant queens.

"Friday, the big thing is the bands," Henning said. "It's a fun group of bands this year, all pretty much rock music and some oldies."

Main stage entertainment Friday features the Buzzkills and The Mighty Short Bus. Unnatural Act, HiFi Superstar and Wedding Banned play on Saturday. Eight bands will compete in the battle of the bands on Sunday.

Revelers will pack the streets Saturday for the Lindenfest parade beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Highpoint Drive to Beck Road south to Sand Lake Road west, and ending at Valley Drive.

Parking will not be allowed on the parade route or lineup streets from 8:30 a.m. until noon. Several side streets also will be affected by the road closures. Visit lindenhurstil.org.

About 90 entries will participate in the parade this year, Henning said.

"Most of our entries are local groups, Scout groups, local businesses, pageant queens from neighboring towns. It's completely free to get in the parade," she noted.

Observers are asked to help the Lake Villa Township Food Pantry "fill the caboose" with nonperishable items.

Grand marshals this year are longtime residents Jim and Barb Stout. He is on the village lakes commission and is a trustee of the Lindenhurst Park District and president of the Lake Villa Fire Protection District. She is a Lake Villa Township trustee and former Lindenhurst village trustee.

The couple is being honored for their "above and beyond volunteerism," Henning said.

Wrapping up the parade is Lucky, the mascot of the new Lake County Fielders independent league baseball team.

A variety of food vendors and bingo all four days also are part of the family friendly festival.

Any profits are donated to community groups.

<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p>

<p class="News"><b>What: </b>Lindenfest</p>

<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12; 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 13; noon to midnight Saturday, Aug. 14; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15</p>

<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Lindenhurst village hall grounds, 2301 E. Sand Lake Road</p>

<p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> Free admission</p>

<p class="News"><b>More info:</b> <a href="http://lindenhurstil.org" target="new">lindenhurstil.org</a> or (847) 356-8252</p>