More than 100,000 attend Frontier Days

With big-name bands and good weather attracting large crowds, organizers said the 2014 Frontier Days festival in Arlington Heights was a big success.

"We had wonderful families from a number of suburbs enjoying great family fun and entertainment all weekend," said Pat Peery, co-chairman of the Frontier Days committee.

Although the festival doesn't sell tickets, Peery estimated between 100,000 and 150,000 people attended the festival over its five days.

The Gin Blossoms performed one night. Kevin Bacon took the stage another night with his brother Michael.

The festival, which ran Wednesday night through Sunday, had hot, sunny weather most days, which helped with attendance, Peery said.

"It was an outstanding weekend full of great fun in Arlington Heights for the Fourth of July," she said.

One attendee just couldn't wait to join the party. A cow in the children's petting zoo gave birth to a 30-pound female calf Sunday morning on the festival grounds.

"It's never dull at Frontier Days," Peery said.

While volunteers and others spent most of Monday cleaning up, Peery said organizers are already starting to talk about next year, which will be the 40th anniversary of Frontier Days.

"I'm sad to see it be all over, but we'll have some new fun things to celebrate next year," she said.