Naperville's Last Fling seeking bands with new online application
A casting call is out for musical acts to play on the secondary stage or possibly perform before a national act on the main stage at Naperville's Last Fling end-of-summer festival.
Naperville Jaycees created an online application this year for bands and entertainers interested in gaining some stage time during the festival Sept. 4 through 7, Jaycees member Danielle Tufano said.
Until May 15, bands can find the application on the “Entertainment Stage” page of the event's website at lastfling.org and reply with the name of their act, availability during the festival, pricing and a music sample such as a link to a YouTube video of a live performance.
“We're looking for everything from country to rock to original music to cover bands to folk music. We've had a comedian/musician up on stage before,” Tufano said. “Anything and everything will definitely be considered for Last Fling entertainment.”
The festival, which is celebrating its 50th year, already named Daughtry its headliner for Saturday, Sept. 5. Tufano said Jaycees are negotiating with other nationally known performers to play Friday and Sunday. The club hopes to name the chosen acts soon.
Local acts could be allowed to open for one of the main bands, but likely, they'll get a slot on the secondary stage, where visitors can hear performances for free.
“The local bands are the ones we want to hear from because those are the ones that have crowds around here that would love to see them at a festival like this,” Tufano said.
Aside from concerts, the festival each year includes a children's area with celebrity meet-and-greets, a carnival, a business expo, eating contests, other quirky competitions, a Labor Day parade and a one-mile race.
New this year will be a 5K race named for those who are slightly too old to be voting members of the Jaycees, a volunteer organization that includes young adults 21 to 39.
“Once you hit 40 you become what we call a 'Rooster,'” Tufano said. “Roosters have taken over this specific event.”
The Rooster 5K is scheduled to get off and running at 9 a.m. at the top of Rotary Hill on Aurora Avenue near Naperville Central High School. That gives many runners long enough to complete the Fling Mile, which starts at 8:45 a.m., then run the longer 3.1-mile race afterward if they choose.
“There are options to do the Fling Mile, the new event or you can do both back-to-back and that's the Fling Challenge,” Tufano said.
The Fling Mile starts near Naperville North High School at Mill Street and 5th Avenue, and it ends near Naperville Central High School — right where the new Rooster 5K begins.
The mile race costs $20 and the Rooster 5K costs $35. Running both races in the Fling Challenge costs $50 with registration for all three running options at lastfling.org/fling_mile.cfm.