Campton Hills festival aims to unite, excite

Three years ago, the Congregational United Church of Christ in Campton Hill organized the inaugural United Fall Festival as a way of bringing the village together after a contentious battle to incorporate.

Now in its third year, organizers have cooked up a load of fun for Saturday's festival.

“The second year we doubled in size and quite possibly we're going to do that again. It seems like it's really gotten some legs,” said Mark Molloy, the festival's volunteer coordinator.

The festival runs 3 to 10 p.m. Saturday on the church grounds at La Fox Road and Fox Mill Boulevard.

Organizers are billing it as a family day of fun, food and fellowship.

The festival will feature live bands, a bags tournament, pig roast, car show, food, drinks, a bonfire, evening movie on a large inflatable screen and the Kids' Corner, a large area of slides, face-painting and activities for the little ones.

“That's what really has become the focus of our event and it continues to grow,” Molloy said of the Kids' Corner. “It's all free for kids. They can come and run around all day. Parents love that. It's really kid-centric. That's why it's growing like it is. Word-of-mouth is it's just a great venue for families with kids.”

Molloy also noted that festival organizers have secured a bevy of local sponsors. On the food side, Home Run Inn Pizza will be cooking up fresh pizza at the festival and Ream's Elburn Meat Market has made a special “United Fall Fest Smoked Sausage” for sale at the festival.

Proceeds from the festival will be donated to local groups such as CASA Kane County, Habitat for Humanity, TriCity Family Services and other groups.

For more information, visit unitedfallfest.com.