Celebrate Algonquin Founders' Day with music, fireworks and parade
The annual Algonquin Founders' Days, featuring live entertainment, family-friendly activities and more, continues through Sunday, July 29. It has moved to Spella Park at 2610 Harnish Drive, due to the flooding last year.
Festival hours are: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, July 27; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 28; and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 29.
Festival favorites are returning this year, including a carnival, a bake-off, family and children's activities. The Dog & Cat Show will be at 10 a.m. Friday.
The annual parade, with theme "Founders' Go Medieval," steps off at 11 a.m. Saturday through downtown Algonquin. The parade will start at Eastgate Drive, head west on Route 64, south on Harrison Street, and west on Washington.
It will be followed by Algonquin's Got Talent at 1 p.m.
On Sunday, a car and motorcycle show will open at 10 a.m. in the J.C. Penney parking lot. The Boy Scout Troop 151 pancake breakfast will begin serving at 8 a.m. The Founders 10K and 5K begin at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, with the 1-mile run at 8 a.m. and the 5K walk at 8:40 a.m. The Junior Eagles Punt, Pass & Kick Competition opens at 9 a.m. Sunday.
Several local bands also are scheduled to headline the event. On Friday, HiFi Superstar will perform from 5 to 6:30 p.m., followed by Libido Funk Circus from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and Boy Band Review from 9 to 10:30 p.m. On Saturday, 7th heaven will play at 5 p.m., followed by Focal Point at 7 p.m., and Modern Day Romeos at 9 p.m. On Sunday, Alabaster will perform at 1:30 p.m., New Age Americans at 2:30 p.m., with Rebel Souls at 3:30 p.m., and Mr. Capone's Bootlegger Band at 4:30 p.m.
The festival will end with a fireworks show at Riverfront Park at 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Admission costs $5 per day, though special festival and VIP passes are available online.
West side shuttles and parking are available at the JCPenney and Target out lots and District 300 parking lot after 5 p.m. The east side shuttles and parking will be at St. Margaret Mary School. For information and a full event schedule, visit algonquinfoundersdays.com.