Pride of the Fox RiverFest celebrates 30th in style
Coming to the annual Pride of the Fox RiverFest has become a family tradition for Billie Schultz and her two young boys, who on Saturday kicked off their day of fun with matching Mario & Luigi face paint.
This marked the 30th anniversary of the three-day downtown St. Charles festival, which features nine different areas with music stages, a car show, a barbecue cook-off, a carnival, a 40-pound sand sculpture and even canine water competitions. The festival began Friday and ends Sunday.
“We come every year, we love it,” said Schultz of St. Charles. The kids especially love the petting zoo, Schultz said, while she enjoys the chance to have fair food like sausage and funnel cakes.
Robin Honzel, of Wheaton, and her mother Dawn DiNardo, of Hoffman Estates, came for the arts and crafts fair along the Riverwalk. DiNardo described herself as a “craft groupie.”
“I look mostly for things for the home and jewelry. Things like unusual planters and pictures,” she said. “I love it.”
A car show along Third Street featured vehicles from 1963 and older, including a gleaming orange-and-beige 1936 Chevrolet that caught business owner Steve Thompson’s attention. Thompson and his wife Dixie own a booth at the Antique Market nearby.
“I’m working today so I thought I’d come out and take a look,” Thompson said, just after snapping a photo of the car. “I like to take photos for my scrapbook. I used to have a 1957 Chevy in high school and college.”
Weekend festivals are a chance for families to spend time together, said Qiyu Huang, who came with her husband Andy Qin and their 12-year-old son, Yihang Qin. The family is originally from China and has lived in Lisle for three years.
“This is our first time in St. Charles, and I really like it,” Qiyu Huang said. “I think it’s a very good time for people to get together because summer is here!”
The lineup of music and events continues through Sunday, when dragon boat races and the canine water competition wrap up. An electric guitar made by Illinois guitar-making master Greg Farris will be raffled off at 6 p.m. Sunday. The fest will conclude with Billy Croft and the 5 Alarm at 4 p.m. and Dirty Dan’s Cool Rockin’ Daddies at 6 p.m. Sunday.
Pride of the Fox RiverFest takes place in downtown St. Charles from 1st Avenue to 5th Street and north to Illinois Avenue. For more information visit prideofthefox.com/riverfest or contact Julie Farris at (630) 444-7460 or info@prideofthefox.com