Glenview Blocktoberfest is back and poised to hit another grand slam
If Ryne Sandberg's there, it's got to be a hit.
The retired hall of fame Chicago Cubs second baseman, enlisted by Glenview Bank & Trust to sign autographs, is only one of the draws at the second Blocktoberfest, Oct. 2 in Glenview.
Blocktoberfest runs rain or shine from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. along Glenview Road between Church and Pine streets. It's got a children's section with performances and activities for kids, food and drink from local purveyors and a live entertainment lineup capped by the popular band, Tributosaurus, morphing into Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for the night.
Without Sandberg in 2019 the first Blocktoberfest - until Oct. 2 the only one - still hit a home run.
"We would have been happy with 2,000 to 3,000 people but we got 10,000 people, which exceeded our expectations, but it also showed how much Glenview wanted and needed an event like ours. It's a great cause because it draws attention to our downtown," said Greg Goodsitt.
He's a financial adviser with Edward Jones and the lead organizer from Friends of Downtown Glenview. That group is a key driver of Blocktoberfest along with the Glenview Chamber of Commerce, Brian Schafer's Ten-Ninety Brewing Company and Glenview Road merchants headed by Bob Hausheer of Morning Glory Florists.
"We're all kind of equal partners in this, so it represents the type of collaboration we like to see between all entities downtown, and we get huge support from the village with police and fire and public services. I hate to sound corny, but it takes a village," Goodsitt said.
It can't go off without sponsors: Busey Bank, the MacPherson Westhoff Group/Compass, Team Trux @Properties, Twelve Tone Music School, Lynch McPeek Wealth Management and the aforementioned Glenview Bank & Trust.
People started planning 2021 Blocktoberfest in January.
"We're super-excited, this is really the first big community event of 2021," said Glenview Chamber Executive Director Meghan Kearney.
"This is the kind of civic engagement that we've been wanting and people have been craving pretty much all year," she said. "Coming out of COVID we want to see our businesses thrive, we want to see our downtown be generated with excitement, we want to see our neighbors and friends we haven't seen for awhile - all these things."
Neighbors and friends will have a lot of things to do.
A family area on Church Street will offer crafts, games and activities for children plus performances by City Kid Theatre and NorthShore Elite Talent Company from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Performers from Twelve Tone Music School and School of Rock Glenbrook will perform from starting at 11 a.m. on a separate stage for the kids.
Six adult-oriented bands are scheduled, starting at noon with the truly Octoberfest-geared Die Musikmeisters, followed by the Donna Herula Trio, classic rock from Artificially Hip, slide guitar blues player Joanna Connor, Motown-tinged Funktastic and, finally, at 8:30 p.m. Tributosaurus playing Tom Petty.
Staffing woes have hit restaurants hard, but several Glenview purveyors stepped up: Ten Ninety Brewing Company, Johnny's Kitchen & Tap, Cafe El Tapatio, Forza Meats and, for dessert, Cake Craze.
It's hoped they'll be rewarded as restaurants were at Blocktoberfest in 2019.
"It's a great benefit to them to bring 10,000 people to their doorstep, and the community loved it, had a great time," Goodsitt said. "And we're expecting a similar response this year given the fact that we just haven't been able to do these types of things for quite awhile."
Admission is free, but the food and beverages, including craft beer and wine, are available for purchase with a credit or debit card.
A covered VIP area in the breezeway of the Midtown Square Apartments will deliver private seating, prime stage views, a collectible Blocktoberfest mug, 6 free drink tickets for wine, beer and hard seltzer, complimentary bottled water, a dessert table and separate bathrooms.
Cost of the VIP area is $100 per adult, $20 per children until 8 p.m. when it's adults only. People may register for the VIP area by visiting glenviewblocktoberfest.com. Volunteer opportunities may also still be available.
Then there's Sandberg, at the Glenview Bank & Trust table from noon-2 p.m. for autographs.
"It's huge for Glenview, it's huge for this event, it's huge for Cub fans all over," Kearney said.
She obviously hopes Blocktoberfest continues to increase in stature.
"When we did it in 2019 we really were just starting out," Kearney said. "We hope this year is a little bit bigger, a little bit better, and we hope to grow this event into a little bit bigger footprint."
Glenview Blocktoberfest
Downtown Glenview will once again be rockin' with a lineup of family entertainment, live music, and food from some of Glenview's favorite restaurants, presented by the Glenview Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Downtown Glenview and Ten Ninety Brewing Co.
When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2
Where: Glenview Road between Church and Pine streets
Good to know: Free admission. Only credit and debit cards accepted to buy food and drinks. VIP packages and volunteer opportunities available.
Info: <a href="https://glenviewblocktoberfest.com">glenviewblocktoberfest.com</a>
<b>Schedule</b>11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Family fun area on Church Street with games, crafts, face painting, balloon twisting and performances by City Kid Theatre and Northshore Elite Talent Company
11 a.m. Performers from Twelve Tone Music School, School of Rock Glenbrook
Noon Die Musikmeisters Band
1:15 p.m. Donna Herula Trio
2:45 p.m. Artificially Hip
4:15 p.m. Joanna Connor
6:15 p.m. Funktastic
8:30 p.m. Tributosaurus becomes Tom Petty