Hometown Fest celebrates its 60th year in Palatine
The Palatine Jaycees for the 60th year are sponsoring one of the largest Fourth of July festivals in the area: Hometown Fest, June 30 through July 4 at Community Park at Palatine Road and Northwest Highway.
"Hometown Fest brings Palatine residents together to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday," said Jennifer Hickman, co-chairwoman. "As we always do, we've made this festival for the entire community. We have events and activities for all ages with the Arts & Crafts Fair/Business & Charity Expo, the ever popular parade and fireworks, Family Day and a wide variety of food and music."
Hours are: carnival-only 5 to 11 p.m. Thursday; carnival and food from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and from noon to 7 p.m. Monday. The drinks tent and the musical acts run later each night Friday through Monday.
The entertainment schedule, which offers acts for all tastes, has been expanded to include live music all day Monday, starting with the Jaycees new singing competition, Hometown Star, at noon. The public helps decide the winner while cheering on local talent.
The craft and business expo from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday will feature more than 70 exhibits of pottery, jewelry, paintings and a wide variety of other unique items. And from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, the Jaycees' Kathleen A. Blanck Memorial Carnival will offer individuals with mental and/or physical disabilities and their families complimentary rides. Registration will begin 30 minutes before the rides open.
"We always plan the festival so that there is something for everybody," said Traci Hinshaw, co-chairwoman. "The carnival will have midway games and rides for children as well as adults."
The Mega Pass allows someone to enjoy the rides anytime the carnival is open. It is $70 online at hometownfest.org and $80 on-site.
On Saturday, American Legion Post 690 will be hosting bingo from 1 to 5 p.m. in the pavilion. Anyone bringing a nonperishable food item for the Palatine Township Food Pantry will receive one free game. Also, that day registration for the Hometown Toss Corn Hole Tournament starts at 1:30 p.m. at the membership booth, with the tournament at 2:30 p.m. For $20 per team, individuals will be able to compete for prizes and bragging rights.
Monday is Family Day. "From 1 until 4 p.m., Palatine's families will be entertained with face painting, balloon art and activity stations, temporary tattoos, small crafts and painting. At Family Day, we'll have something for children of all ages and interests," Hickman said.
The parade, which will begin on Cedar Street at 11 a.m. Saturday, will have 70 participants, including several acts such as the Flat 43 BMX TEAM, the High School Drum Line, and Sam & The Giant Wheel. In addition, the Medinah Shriner's Mini-Choppers Club will be entertaining the crowd along with the West Suburban Shriner Club's "Roaring 57s."
The most anticipated event is the fireworks display at approximately 9 p.m. or dusk on Sunday evening. It will "incorporate all of last year's crowd favorite pyrotechnics as well as some that the committee feels the community will appreciate," Hinshaw said.
For food, some of Palatine's best eateries and civic groups will supply pizza, hamburgers, ribs, ice cream and international treats to satisfy the heartiest of appetites.
More festival information is at palatinejaycees.org/hometown-fest.
Entertainment
FRIDAY
5:30 p.m. Funky Monks (Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute)
8:30 p.m. Don't Speak (No Doubt Tribute)
10 p.m. Boy Band Review
SATURDAY
Noon Summer Son
2:30 p.m. RumorHazit
5 p.m. Fletcher Rockwell
7:30 p.m. Hello Weekend
10 p.m. Mike & Joe
SUNDAY
Noon Palatine Park District Battle of the Bands Winner
1:30 p.m. Castle Band
3 p.m. Serendipity
5 p.m. Cowboy Jukebox
7:30 p.m. Bucket #6
10 p.m. Modern Day Romeos
MONDAY
Noon Jaycees Hometown Star Singing Competition
1:30 p.m. Nothing Yet
3 p.m. Hot Rocks
5:30 p.m. GooRoos
8 p.m. The Personnel