Last Fling cleanup follows mixed-bag weather weekend in Naperville

Rotary Hill is being cleared and Jackson Avenue is getting back to normal in Naperville after a four-day Last Fling festival that saw at least two rounds of strong storms over Labor Day weekend.

Organizers said Tuesday they were glad to sneak in a sold-out Goo Goo dolls concert Saturday night without weather issues, but they had to cancel the Bed Races earlier Saturday and temporarily shut down the main stage area Friday afternoon and Sunday night, shortening the Collective Soul show.

Naperville Jaycees, who run the annual event, now are overseeing cleanup efforts, tallying fundraising totals and reviewing what went well at the festival along with what can be improved, Last Fling Executive Director Bill Eagan said.

Organizers introduced a beverage ticket system for the first time, and Eagan said they noticed long lines on Rotary Hill during the Goo Goo Dolls performance, when 8,000 people packed the sloping lawn near the stage.

Karen Coleman, Last Fling spokeswoman, said volunteers left the beverage ticket booth Saturday night and began selling tickets to people throughout the line to cut the wait, but some changes may be made to the process before next year’s event.

Counting attendance is tricky at the Fling because admission is free, and fundraising totals are not yet available. The Jaycees will pay volunteer groups an hourly rate as a way to support the sports teams, church groups and other organizations they represent. Additional money raised will be donated to nonprofits such as groups fighting domestic violence or hunger, or working to improve concert halls or other public amenities.