Fireworks show Friday to kick off West Dundee Heritage Fest
It's time to light up the sky with one more pyrotechnics spectacular before the countryside submits to autumn's dazzling displays of color.
That's where West Dundee Heritage Fest comes in.
The three-day festival begins Friday, Sept. 13, with an 8 p.m. fireworks show, with food, a business expo and live music starting at 6 p.m.
For the 22nd year, Heritage Fest will deliver music, crafts, food, kids' activities, a car show, a Baggo tournament, a business and not-for-profit expo and games, said Kim Tibbetts, executive assistant to West Dundee Village Manager Joseph Cavallaro.
"It's a pretty big event," said Tibbetts. "We estimate that there are at least 10,000 people that come through. A lot of people come for the craft fair. A lot of people come for the car show. A lot of people come to see bands."
An arts and crafts fair will line the banks of the Fox River from Second and Washington streets north along Lincoln Avenue to the footbridge that connects West Dundee with East Dundee. The fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
"We'll have 100 or so booths," said Tibbetts.
This year, there will not be an antiques and vintage market at Heritage Fest, she said.
About 20 teams are expected to compete in a Baggo tournament from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday in Grafelman Park.
Tibbetts said advance registration is available and tournament day registration may be available if all slots haven't been filled.
Saturday morning begins with a chip-timed 5K run and a 1.6-mile walk presented by the Dundee Township and Elgin Lions clubs with proceeds benefiting Lions charities, Tibbetts said.
The Dundee Township Lions also will present a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday.
"They've got pancakes, sausages, biscuits and gravy. All the money they make goes back into their charitable work," Tibbetts said.
The downtown main stage starts rocking from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, hitting pause for the fireworks, then coming back at 9 p.m. with country band Bella Cain.
Country, folk, rock and blues acts will take the stage beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday and playing through Hi Infidelity's headlining act at 9 p.m. Saturday.
Sunday's main stage lineup leads off with the Starlites, a jazz combo, at 8 a.m. and winds up with The Lennys!, a rock band that specializes in hits from the '50s and later.
Live music will be in the air at Grafelman Park Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Inflatable rides and games will be available at both the downtown location near the main stage and at Grafelman Park. The park will host a touch-a-bus event for children, as well as a climbing tree and airbrush tattoos, Tibbetts said.
Tibbetts said the Cool Car Show, featuring both old and new models parked along South Second Street, is a competition that goes from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and that gives spectators a chance to vote for their favorites.
"If it's a really nice day, we get about 100 to 150 cars," she said.
Tibbetts said festival visitors can park on nearby streets and in the lot on the south side of Main Street.
"We do have a free shuttle bus for off-site parking. People can park at Spring Hill Mall if they wish to do so," she said.
The free shuttle service will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; no shuttle bus service will be available Friday.
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22nd annual West Dundee Heritage Fest
When: 6 to 11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13-15
Where: Downtown West Dundee
Admission: Free
Details: wdundeeheritagefest.org