Glendale Heights Fest returns with music, cars and plenty of fireworks

Ask any organizer of Glendale Heights Fest what makes the five-day celebration so special and the fireworks shows are sure to be mentioned immediately.

"Our Sunday night fireworks, people say they are better than Chicago's," said Rebecca Tybor, executive secretary to the mayor of Glendale Heights. "Sunday nights are just phenomenal."

The shows - fireworks also will be presented tonight - are organized by Glendale Heights resident Joey Castanza, an employee for the fireworks display company Lumina Inc.

"He wants to make sure he has a really good fireworks display because he takes pride in that, living in town," Tybor said.

And the town sure enjoys it.

"We have to have the best fireworks in the Western suburbs," said Marge Linnane, a member of the committee planning the festival. "Wednesday is a small display. It's kind of like a teaser for people to come back on Sunday."

The festival offers plenty more than fireworks during its run that begins today and continues through Sunday in Camera Park, 101 E. Fullerton Ave.

"It's a great place to meet up with neighbors and run into old friends," Linnane said. "It's a place to sit and relax and enjoy yourself, it's free of charge - all those good things. It's a nice community activity."

Activities include lots of carnival rides along with three days of bingo, more than 15 food vendors and band performances.

The music lineup features Chicago-area favorite 7th Heaven, country rockers Jason and the Haymakers, and '80s cover band Infinity.

Plus, two new attractions at the fest will give attendees some more entertainment: a mechanical bull and a Glendale Heights Idol competition.

More than a dozen people already have signed up to compete in the Idol show to display their singing talents.

At $5 a ride, the mechanical bull is a fundraising tool for Family in Faith Lutheran Church in Glendale Heights. The church is using the money to help build a permanent food distribution facility on its property to replace a mobile pantry that comes monthly.

Adults planning to drink alcohol will need to buy a wristband for $1, showing that they've been carded. The local VFW post will use the wristband fees as a fundraiser.

Festival Chairwoman Paula Sabatino thinks the five-day celebration should be fairly inexpensive for families, especially in comparison to other area events.

"In today's economy, it's hard for families to go out," she said. "We try to keep it affordable and family friendly."

Organizers even asked all the food vendors to include a few items on their menus for less than $4. They all willingly complied, Sabatino said.

Attendees can save money on the carnival with the purchase of a wristband offering unlimited rides. The bands are available in advance for $17 at the village hall and the Sports Hub, or $20 at the gate. Wristbands are honored from 6 p.m. to close on Wednesday and Thursday and 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

On Sunday, the 28th annual Show and Shine car show is expected to attract anywhere between 150 and 300 cars and feature tons of raffles, door prizes and trophies.

"Everyone that brings a car gets a ballot," Tybor said. "It's great to see the people that are out there that know cars and appreciate cars and spend all their time and effort and money on these cars, that they get the opportunity to choose the best cars."