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'Celebrate the Decades' at Gurnee Days Aug. 9-12

The 46th annual Gurnee Days family festival is set for Aug. 9-12, at Viking Park and other venues throughout the village, with the theme "Gurnee Days - Celebrate the Decades."

The theme will allow businesses and organizations participating in the annual parade to celebrate significant decades in their history - perhaps the year the business or organization was founded, a significant event in the past, or even a decade remembered fondly.

Officers leading the all-volunteer organization this year are President Scott Crowe, President-Elect Kraig Owens, Treasurer Deanne Fisher, Secretary Kay Wilt, and Past-President Sue McDougle.

The majority of the most popular Gurnee Days events will return, along with a few new activities sure to be popular with kids of all ages.

Tony Tantillo of Warren Township and his daughter, Elliott, and her friend, Maple Nelson, use nets to catch candy along Old Grand Avenue during the 2017 Gurnee Days Parade. Daily Herald File photo, 2017

Events kick off Thursday, Aug. 9, with a bike rodeo and teen pool party, but also the traditional testimonial dinner honoring an individual or couple who has made a significant contribution to the Gurnee community. This year's honoree is Dan Kloczkowski, a longtime business owner and volunteer in Gurnee. The dinner is scheduled for 6 p.m. at The Shanty, 38985 Route 41 in Wadsworth.

Friday, Aug. 10, will feature a bike rodeo, story time, amusement rides, food booths, the beer garden and live entertainment. The Boy Band Night is scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m. on the Viking Park Main Stage. The show pays tribute to popular boy bands, performing covers of songs by *NSync, Backstreet Boys, New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, One Direction and more.

  A representative of Luke's Restaurant in Mundelein flips burgers during a previous Gurnee Days at Viking Park. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com, 2016

Saturday, Aug. 11, dawns with a golf tournament and 10K race and fun run/walk. The Exchange Club will serve up tasty meals at Ribfest in Viking Park from noon to 11 p.m. There will be open houses at the public works, police and fire departments, tours of the historic Mother Rudd Home and more.

Live music returns Saturday evening on the Viking Park Main Stage. Nashville Electric Company, a country pop and rock band will perform at 5 p.m. Performing at 8 p.m. will be Mike & Joe, a modern rock cover band featuring popular music from the 1990s through today, with a few tunes from the 1970s and '80s. The fireworks show begins at 9:30 p.m. at Viking Park.

  Festivalgoers play a carnival game during a previous Gurnee Days at Viking Park. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com, 2016

This year, Gurnee Explorer Post 266 will host the annual pancake breakfast fundraiser from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Aug. 12, at the park, while the Gurnee Days Parade will step off at noon on Old Grand Avenue in the heart of the village. The second annual "Battle of the Badges" softball game between the Gurnee Fire Department and Gurnee Police Department is set for 2 p.m. at the Viking Park softball field.

In between the main events, Viking Park will be filled with families and friends enjoying the petting zoo, stage entertainment, ice cream- and rib-eating contests, a police dog demonstration, a Zumba party, amusement rides, exhibitors, food and games.

Admission is free; some events require a fee or advance registration. Register for the 10K race and ice-cream eating contest at www.gurneeparkdistrict.com.

Gurnee Days is funded by cash or in-kind contributions from area businesses, individuals and civic organizations. Without their support, Gurnee Days would not be possible. To make a donation, volunteer or for additional information, write to the Gurnee Days Corp., P.O. Box 111, Gurnee IL 60031, call (847) 623-7788, email info@gurneedays.com or visit www.GurneeDays.com.

Gurnee Fire Department trucks travel along Old Grand Avenue during last year's Gurnee Days Parade. Daily Herald File photo, 2017

46th annual Gurnee Days

Events take place Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 9-12, at Viking Park, 4374 Old Grand Ave., and other locations in Gurnee.

THURSDAY

10 a.m. to noon Bike rodeo (Woodland Middle School)

6 p.m. Testimonial dinner (The Shanty, 38985 Route 41 in Wadsworth)

7:15-8:45 p.m. Teen pool party (Hunt Club Park Aquatic Center)

FRIDAY

10 a.m. to noon Bike rodeo (Gurnee Fire Station #1)

10 a.m. Storytime Extravaganza (Warren-Newport Public Library)

5-10:30 p.m. Amusement rides

6-7 p.m. Gurnee Idol

6-8 p.m. Family bubble soccer

6-10 p.m. Food booths

7:30-10:30 p.m. Beer Garden & Entertainment: The Boy Band Night

SATURDAY

7-10 a.m. Golf tournament (HeatherRidge Golf Course)

7:30 a.m. 10K race & 2-mile fun run/walk (WTHS O'Plaine Campus)

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3-on-3 basketball tournament

10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Big Run Wolf Ranch program on wildlife (Warren-Newport Public Library)

10 a.m. to noon Public works open house (Kilbourne Road)

10 a.m. to noon Fire department open house (Old Grand Avenue)

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Student art exhibit

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mother Rudd open house (Mother Rudd Home)

10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Great Gurnee Adventure

11 a.m., 2 and 4:30 p.m. Viking Drama

11 a.m. to noon CTCU family magic show

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Police department open house

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Exhibits - games

11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Food booths

Noon to 12:30 p.m. Free Basketball clinic (ages 4-8 yrs.)

Noon to 12:45 p.m. Woodland Band

Noon to 11 p.m. Exchange Club's Ribfest

12:30-7 p.m. Cuddles and Billy Boy clowns

1-1:45 p.m. Warren Alumni Choir

1-11 p.m. Amusement rides

2-2:30 p.m. Ice-cream eating contest

2:30-3 p.m. Rib-eating contest

3-11 p.m. Free parking lot shuttle (various stops near Viking Park)

3:15-4 p.m. Just Teasin' Band

4-4:45 p.m. Police dog demonstration

5 p.m. Nashville Electric Company performs

8 p.m. Mike & Joe perform

9:30 p.m. Fireworks

SUNDAY

8 a.m. to noon Gurnee Explorer Post 266 pancake breakfast

9-10 a.m. Zumba Party

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Car show/BGV Motorsports

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Student art exhibit

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food booths

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Exhibits - games

Noon Gurnee Days Parade (Old Grand Avenue)

1-2 p.m. Viking Middle School Band

1-3:30 p.m. Cuddles and Billy Boy clowns

1-4 p.m. Children's pony rides & petting zoo

1-4 p.m. Mother Rudd open house (Mother Rudd Home)

1-5 p.m. Amusement rides

2 p.m. Gurnee fire department and Gurnee police department "Battle of the Badges" softball game

2-4 p.m. Talent show

2:30 p.m. Viking Drama

What’s new at Gurnee Days in 2018

Submitted by Gurnee Days Corporation.

The Gurnee Days celebration will feature several new activities that will be fun for the entire family.

• Two new sports activities are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 11, and sponsored by Vipers Pro Basketball, a professional men’s basketball team based in Lake County. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Vipers will conduct a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at Viking Park. There will be four divisions between ages 8 and 16. At noon, the Vipers will host a free basketball clinic for kids ages 4 to 8, also at Viking Park.

• On Saturday, Aug. 11, at 10-11 a.m. at the Warren-Newport Public Library, a team from Big Run Wolf Ranch in Lockport, Illinois, will make a presentation on local wildlife. Big Run Wolf Ranch is a federally licensed nonprofit educational facility specializing in North American wildlife. It has been licensed for approximately 30 years and presenting educational lectures for about 26 years. President John Basile and presenter/ranch manager Renee Cajandig will bring along a coyote, a skunk and a wolf.

• Also new is a family magic show sponsored by Community Trust Credit Union. It will start at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Viking Park Main Stage. Chicago entertainer Randy Bernstein performs his unique style of magic-comedy throughout the Chicago area, and often at Chicago Bulls games.

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