Hainesville plans summer's last blast
Hainesville is planning music, food, games, children's activities and more to help bring summer to a close as the village hosts its annual Hainesville Fest.
The community festival runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at Union Square Park.
Children can enjoy the pony rides, brought back by Patch 22 after a popular response last year, village trustee and event chairman Jim Tiffany said. They also can enjoy some interactive learning, thanks to exhibits brought by Busy Brains Children's Museum, or create a masterpiece on Artworks Children's Museum's Bubba the Art Bus.
Food will be provided by: Papa Johns pizza; Dawgs Corn offering deep-fried corn on the cob, burgers and hot dogs; Sweet Susie's ice cream; Thirsty Cup offering coffee, espresso, lattes and fruit smoothies; and Casperson Co. offering funnel cakes, lemon shake-ups and deep-fried candy bars. The American Legion of Round Lake Park will provide a beer tent.
Among other attractions will be bingo organized by the village's Great Age Club, and a vehicle and equipment display by the Round Lake and Grayslake fire departments and the new Hainesville Police Department.
"That is something the kids will really get a kick out of, meeting them (fire and police officials), getting in proximity with the equipment and learning how it works," Tiffany said.
Among other offerings will be a moonwalk and carnival games provided by Clowning Around Celebration Authority, and a performance by the Saturday June Band from 6 to 9 p.m.
The Lake County Forest Preserve District, in celebration of its 50th anniversary, will set up an information trailer from 5 to 9 p.m. Representatives from Save-A-Pet Adoption Center in Grayslake and the American Cancer Society also will be on hand to provide information.
While at the festival, visitors can buy raffle tickets - $1 each or six for $5 - for a chance to win prizes. They include restaurant gift certificates, movie tickets, golf offerings from the Round Lake Area and Grayslake park districts, and a birthday party for eight at the Round Lake Roller Rink. Tiffany added organizers also will sell $2 tickets for a chance to win a two-night stay at the Wilderness Resort in the Wisconsin Dells.
Tiffany said his goal when planning the is to make it family-friendly. Helping make the event a success each year, he added, are the many volunteers who will work Saturday. Helping again this year will be a group from Grayslake Central High School's National Honor Society.
"They deserve a big hand," Tiffany said.