Fox River Grove marks centennial with carnival, parade this weekend
Fox River Grove residents will mark the town's centennial with a three-day carnival and music festival starting Friday and a parade on Sunday.
Incorporated Aug. 21, 1919, the town straddling McHenry and Lake counties started with a tavern, a railroad bridge, a picnic grove and a roadhouse.
Village officials have marked the centennial with special banners along Route 14 and a year-round celebration of the village's rich history.
“The anticipation is building through town,” said Jennifer Curtiss, village trustee and centennial committee member.
“It's been over a year planning so it's really exciting to see this finally coming to fruition.”
Festivities kick off at 6 p.m. Friday with bands Ryan Budyak Live and Bodhicitta performing back-to-back at Lions Park, 102 Beachway Drive off Route 14.
The carnival, set up on the park's baseball diamond, includes a Ferris wheel, zipper, Tilt-a-Whirl, kiddie roller coaster and bumper cars. It will be open until 11 p.m.
Saturday's events run from noon until 9 p.m., with the carnival remaining open until 11 p.m. Bands performing are: The Allstars at 3:30 p.m., Gener8r at 5:30 p.m. and Cowboy Jukebox at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday's highlight is the “Floatin' Through the Decades” parade, kicking off at noon from Lincoln Avenue and ending at Lions Park.
Among the parade entries is the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, which will stay awhile after the parade so children can take pictures with it, Curtiss said.
“We have between 35 and 40 registered participants,” including golf carts, walkers and floats, she added.
Longtime village resident Charlie Sedivec, a member of the Norge Ski Club, will serve as the parade marshal. He will ride with Village President Bob Nunamaker in a convertible. Village trustees and two retired police chiefs will be in golf carts behind them.
Bands performing Sunday are: Bridge at 2 p.m. and Sixteen Candles at 4 p.m. The carnival closes at 8 p.m.
Carnival tickets are $1.25 each or $20 for a sheet of 18 tickets. Rides require two to five tickets depending on the ride.
On-street parking is prohibited near the festival area. There are designated parking areas for festivalgoers. For more information, visit foxrivergrove.org.
“We are anticipating the biggest crowd will probably be on Saturday evening and then, of course, Sunday,” Curtiss said. “People are excited about it. The weather looks like it's going to be absolutely perfect.”