Lake in the Hills kicks off summer festival Friday

Lake in the Hills will host its 15th annual Summer Sunset Festival this weekend with some new attractions, such as a petting zoo and 5K Fun Run/Walk.

The event will feature music, entertainment, food, carnival rides, car show, parade, wine tasting, bags tournament, and fireworks. Festival hours are 3 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Sept 4; 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5; and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, at Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Road.

Some attractions have been expanded, while others are being discontinued this year for lack of participation, said Denise Wasserman, co-chairwoman of the Lake in the Hills Summer Sunset Festival Committee.

"Our wine tasting was all three days last year, but only at night. This year, we are going to run the wine tasting event the entire time," Wasserman said.

JoDon Farms, which has brought a few animals to previous fests, will be setting up a petting zoo on Saturday and Sunday.

Also new this year is the 5K Fun Run/Walk, which will be held at 7 p.m. Friday night, instead of a timed race as in years past.

"We're encouraging people to come out with their families and to get their kids involved," Wasserman said.

A popular attraction that will not happen this year is the Melon Propellin' Contest.

"Groups would make these big, huge catapults and they would chuck watermelons," Wasserman said. "We've always had great attendance for the event, but it's been harder and harder to get participants. When you don't have people to build these (catapults), it's hard to put on a contest."

On hold this year is the craft and business expo, typically held on Sunday. It was hosted by the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting a Chamber Challenge instead.

"It's free for our festivalgoers to participate in," Wasserman said. "They are going to be bringing out some big inflatable things."

Wasserman said organizers hope to bring back the expo next year.

There is no admission charge to get into the festival grounds, and the bands, car show and parade are all free.

A new village business, Woods Creek Tavern, is the Main Stage sponsor, which allowed organizers to expand the musical acts.

"Typically, we would start the bands around 4 p.m. Now we are able to get three extra bands and start earlier," Wasserman said. "It's very important to us to offer free entertainment."

The car show, which begins at 6 p.m. Friday, is free to enter. Participants will receive awards sponsored by Lauren Motors.

"We can accommodate probably 80 or 90 cars," Wasserman said. "There have been years in the past where we've had to turn cars away."

The parade, sponsored by the Algonquin Road Surgery Center, will step off at 10 a.m. Saturday.

There is a fee for carnival rides, food, alcohol and beverages sold at the fest. Among the biggest draws of the festival are Kids' Korner, a tent with free events for children, and the carnival, whose proceeds essentially fund the festival.

"We've been very fortunate that, even in years with not such great weather, we've always been able to cover the cost of the festival," Wasserman said. "This will be year 15 without losing money."

Typically, the festival attracts about 5,000 people daily, though organizers don't have an exact count.

The festival is organized by an all-volunteer committee of 23 members. It takes about 100 volunteers to cover the weekend. "We're always looking for volunteers," Wasserman said.

Volunteers will receive a T-shirt and complimentary food voucher. To volunteer, sign up at signupgenius.com.

For a complete event schedule, visit summersunsetfest.com.

If you go

What: Lake in the Hills' Summer Sunset Festival, featuring music, entertainment, food, carnival rides, car show, parade, wine tasting, bags tournament, and fireworks.

When: 3 to 10:30 p.m. Friday; 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4-6

Where: Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Road, Lake in the Hills

Details: For a complete event schedule or to volunteer, visit <a href="http://www.summersunsetfest.com">summersunsetfest.com.</a>