Cary Days no longer a tradition for namesake
The Cary-Grove Jaycees have pulled the plug on Cary Days, the three-day summer festival that has been the village's long-standing signature event for nearly 15 years.
The group held the fundraiser for the chapter to pay for events such as its fishing derby, Easter egg hunts and women's self-defense classes, said Gail Overstreet-Williams, the chapter vice president.
But over the past few years, expenses rose to the point that it was no longer "financially feasible" for the group to hold the festival, Overstreet-Williams said in a statement.
The group made money from alcohol and parking sales.
"Our annual costs for fireworks, police coverage, park fees and other supplies and materials necessary to hold Cary Days continued to increase, while attendance decreased," she said. "While Jaycee Cary Days is something very near and dear to the heart of the Cary-Grove Jaycees, we simply cannot continue with the event at this time."
In lieu of Cary Days, the Cary Park District will hold the one-day Summer Celebration from 5 to 10 p.m. July 3 in Lions Park that offers food, live music and fireworks, said Katie Hughes, the director of marketing and communications for the park district.
If it rains, the fireworks will light up the skies on July 5 at dusk.
Cary Days ran for three days during the first week of July and featured a carnival, food, boat racing, a fireworks show and a talent show at Lions Park.
"I'm disappointed that we aren't going to have the multiday celebration that we've had in the past, but I understand the decision that's being made by the Jaycees," said Cary Mayor Tom Kierna. "Times are challenging for many of us and it's very difficult for the village to fund a celebration of that magnitude."
Admission to the Summer Celebration is free but depending on whether you park on grass or pavement you will be paying either $5 or $10 for parking.
The park district has budgeted between $15,000 and $20,000 for the event and roughly $10,000 has been slated for fireworks. Hughes said.
Other towns, meanwhile, have been in a similar financial boat.
Pointing to a downturn in the economy, Elgin officials this year canceled Fox Fire Fest and did not bring back Ribfest or Fox River Festival of Balloons that it pulled out of in 2009.
As well, the Crystal Lake Gala was discontinued and last year, organizers in Lake in the Hills shut down its air show - it will not be returning this year, either.
"It's a difficult time and it's not something that's been strictly in Cary," Kierna said. "These are things that are victims of our budget constraints."