Small-town charm draws visitors to Maple Park Fun Fest

Maple Park Fun Fest has come a long way since its beginning as a local softball tournament in 1998.

After the first event, "a committed few realized the potential and wanted more," said Beth Miller, the festival's director of marketing and public relations. "They began to expand, adding a parade and fireworks."

The festival, which has always been held on Labor Day weekend, now includes a craft show, car show, bags tournament, Kids' bike and wagon parade, live entertainment, food vendors, a 5K race/2 mile walk, and the Kid Zone, loaded with activities.

Festivities kick off on Saturday, Sept. 3, continue through Sunday and end with the softball tournament on Monday, Sept. 5.

Maple Park, a village of about 1,300 residents, straddles Kane and DuPage counties and is at Route 38 and County Line Road, about eight miles west of Elburn. According to Miller, the festival, which takes place primarily on Main Street, draws about 1,500 to 2,000 attendees each year.

"Many of those are local residents who bring out their families and friends, but we also get a good crowd from neighboring towns. We pride ourselves in knowing that we are one of the only festivals in the area that is free to attend. There is no parking fee; there is no soundstage fee," she said.

The free kids' activities are a highlight of the festival, according to Miller.

"There is a bike parade; Dave DiNaso Traveling World of Reptiles; Tower Hill Petting Zoo; a balloon animal artist, Andrew Noyszewski; and the parade at 6 p.m. on Saturday."

But the biggest draw, she says, is the entertainment on the soundstage.

"This year we are ecstatic to welcome back, after a three-year break, Hi Infidelity on Saturday night starting at 7 p.m. Another big draw is our favorite local roots band, Back Country Roads, at 7 p.m. Sunday."

Food and drink are an important part of any festival, and the Fun Fest includes a number of choices.

"We will have concession stands from Slow Smoke BBQ, Great Lakes Popcorn, Maple Park Lions Club with ice cream, and Sycamore Country Store and Catering. Also, local restaurants, Bootlegger's and HD Rockers, will serve food out of their establishments. "A beer garden is located in the parking lot at 203 Willow, directly across the street from the stage.

"The Maple Park American Legion Post 312 hosts the most awesome breakfast buffet on Sunday from 7 a.m. to noon. Pancakes, eggs, biscuits and gravy, fruit, sausage, bacon .… it is incredible. Also, on Sunday during the car show, Cream King will have an ice cream cart."

Miller, who teaches special education and English at Kaneland High School, has been involved with the festival planning committee for more than nine years. She said the festival is a not-for-profit event, run entirely by volunteers.

"Funds that we raise are mainly used to support the festival the following year, but we also purchase items for the village of Maple Park," she said. "This past year, we updated all of the Christmas lights for the village. Next year, we are discussing the possibility of starting a scholarship for a college-bound Maple Park resident. We usually look at what surplus of funds we have in October, and discuss the needs of the village. Then we decide where the funds are going.

"Our overall goal is to provide some entertainment for this small-town community. It is a way to get Maple Park on the map and make it even more special."

Miller said her favorite thing about the festival is its small-town feel.

"I love that my kids can head out the front door and walk to the festival," she said. "I love that my kids have so many amazing childhood memories that Fun Fest provided. I love that the staging for the parade wraps around my house, and sometimes I have horses or a high school band playing in my backyard.

"I grew up in a suburb of Chicago. All of this was not part of my normal. It is for my children, and I think that is magnificent."

For details, visit the festival's website, mapleparkfunfest.com.

It takes a village: Meet the volunteers who plan the festival

Planning for Fun Fest is a yearlong event. We have a committee of seven volunteers who work all year long to bring the fest to life.

• Roger Kahl, one of the "Founding Fathers" of Fun Fest and lifelong resident, is our fearless leader. His area of expertise is fireworks.

• Cathy Lay, also a lifelong resident, runs the craft show. She is a crafter at heart and completely in her element when surrounded by glue sticks and stamps.

• Tammy Moudy joined the committee about four years ago. She is our entertainment coordinator and runs the bags tournament.

• Then we have the A&P Grain Systems gang - Jason and Melissa Brady and Brittany Altepeter - none of them live in town, but they work in the village and wanted to get involved. Jason and Melissa Brady are in charge of the car show. Brittany Altepeter runs the parade and the kids' bike parade.

• We also have regular volunteers who help with the festival and activities that Fun Fest provides throughout the year: Eric and Barb Pinion and Ray and Becky Lynch.

• And finally, me. I take care of all the social media, update the website, and solicit the donations for soundstage banners. I have to know all that is going on because I answer the emails, filter the phone calls, and talk to the press.

- Beth Miller, director of public relations, Maple Park Fun Fest