THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2008
'Buffalo Grove Days' Last Through Monday
The 50th Annual Buffalo Grove Days festival begins today, Thursday, Aug. 28 and runs until Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1 as the last event in the village's celebration of its 50-year history.
"This is the final hurrah for the celebration that been going on all year," said Village Manager Bill Brimm. The event is held at the Buffalo Grove Municipal Campus, 50 Raupp Blvd.
The celebration features a large number of live bands, including some representing the 50s and 60s. An Elvis impersonator and the oldies cover band Mickey & the Memories take the stage on Friday, 60s hit makers Blood, Sweat and Tears appears Saturday, and Beatles tribute band American English play on Sunday. The entertainment schedule features many other bands, an a cappella group, and the Wheeling jazz band.
Other attractions include a food tent, a beer garden, carnival rides, and special events for persons with disabilities and their families. The 23rd Annual Arts and Crafts Fair runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday.
Two other very popular yearly attractions are the parade at 1 p.m. on Sunday and the fireworks that night at 9:15 p.m. More than 90 entries are confirmed for the big parade.
The grill and dessert challenges also return for 2008.
"It (the grill competition) started slow, but every year it gets more and more popular," Brimm said. Fest committee members and village trustees do the judging on Saturday in classes divided by type of meat.
Similarly, the dessert challenge has classes for pies, cakes, and age groups. "No professionals can enter into it," Brimm explained. "It's more towards just the enjoyment." However, fest goers can also enjoy the desserts. For a $1 ticket, people can taste any two of the entries. Money raised will be donated to local food pantries.
Brimm expects "anywhere from 30 to 50 thousand people over the whole weekend" to attend. The number is usually close to the number of residents in the village.