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Music, food, more part of Vernon Hills Summer Celebration

Vernon Hills is preparing to kick off its annual Summer Celebration, which runs Thursday, July 18, through Sunday, July 21, and features tons of activities for people of all ages.

Summer Celebration has long been a symbol that we've reached the middle of summer and is notable for having one of the largest beer tents in Lake County, national headlining musical acts, regional food vendors, and a carnival.

In addition, the festival includes free activities for all ages to enjoy, from a bags tournament for adults, to a petting zoo, a game show, and free crafts for the kids.

The volunteer-run Summer Celebration committee works year-round to secure local business sponsors and donations from local restaurants to feed first responders during the event. They also recruit nearly 100 volunteers who help run the event, plan events such as kids crafts and bingo, manage food vendors and the beer tent, and book the live entertainment and production crews to entertain Vernon Hills residents and visitors.

The committee partners with the Vernon Hills Police Department for security and patrols; the public works department for help with setup, teardown, and everything in between; and the Vernon Hills Park District, which maintains the grounds where the event is held.

The carnival is open from 6-10 p.m. Thursday, July 18; 6-11 p.m. Friday, July 19; 1-11 p.m. Saturday, July 20; and 1-6 p.m. Sunday, July 21. Events take place in Century Park, 1002 Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills.

Here are the daily highlights:

Thursday, July 18: the event begins and welcomes local act Pelvis Brothers to the stage for the first time. The show will start at 7 p.m. and they'll be rocking right up until the annual Fireworks Spectacular, one of the highlights of the festival.

Friday, July 19: the grounds open at 6 p.m. and the fun continues with carnival wristband specials, food vendors — including some new food trucks — and the beer tent. Check out the website and Facebook page for updates and entertainment announcements.

Saturday, July 20: the main grounds open at 1 p.m. There will be carnival wristband specials and free crafts for the kids under the big tent, where they can make foam art, sand art and flip-flops. More events may be added during the day on Saturday, so stay tuned.

The evening will feature Trippin' Billies, a renowned Dave Matthews Tribute band, at 7 p.m., followed by The BoDeans as the main headliner. The BoDeans have been touring for 30 years and are known for hits like “Closer to Free,” “Good Things” and “Fadeaway.” After the show, a DJ under the big tent will keep the party going.

Sunday, July 21: “Family Fun Day” opens at 1 p.m. for more kids crafts, face painting, as well as a petting zoo and a game show. The day also includes the seventh annual Bags Tournament and wraps up with a karaoke showcase, where local talent will have the opportunity to bring their voices to the big stage.

Also returning is the Cream-The-Cop Fundraiser, where, for a $5 donation, kids and adults can “cream a cop” with a whipped cream pie. The money will be donated to the 100 Club of Chicago, which supports the families of first responders who have died in the line of duty.

For information and a full list of events, visit www.summercel.com.

  Take your best shot with the Vernon Hills Summer Celebration golf ball hitting challenge. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com, 2018
  Vernon Hills Summer Celebration runs Thursday, July 18, to Sunday, July 21, at Century Park, 1002 Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com, 2018
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