Story posted Thursday, July 2, 2009
Great 'Days'
Frontier Festival Through Sunday
By DWIGHT ESAU Journal & Topics Reporter
Entertainment and celebration officials like to boast that they have "something for everyone" at their events.
Frontier Days in Arlington Hts., however, might be raising this "whatever you want is here" concept to a new level.
If it's been done or even imagined, it's probably here at Recreation Park this week in Arlington Hts.' biggest and best festival of the year. Activities are available today (Thursday) at 5 p.m.
Whatever your hobbies, tastes, interests, or leisure time preferences, the "Days" literally have "something for everyone." This is probably because festival planners work so hard to make this concept work for the community.
Take a look at the festival's schedule of events, and you are certain to find some- thing that strikes your fancy. Rock bands, carnival rides, and an impressive array of food get most of the attention, but there's much, much more.
Day by day, here's what you'll find---
Today (Thursday)
There's Irish food at Peggy Kinnane's booth. You can try out your baseball and softball skills, and enjoy "Audio Daydream," a rock group that plays all kinds of rock music. A bit later, ARRA, another rock group, plays the music of Rush, Van Halen, Creed, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, and many more. It's only a short evening, but you haven't seen anything yet.
Friday, July 3
This is the festival's first full day, and Frontier Days comes into full bloom.
There's a 3-on-3-soccer tournament, a bike rally, and special carnival and other activities for citizens with disabilities. Check out a teen volleyball tournament, and if you're a health food enthusiast, order up at the Mindful Meals' booth at the Taste of Arlington booth.
There are pony rides for kids, an exotic animal presentation, an art exhibit on the tennis court, face painting near the pool, wheelchair tennis, and a demonstration by the village's police K-9 unit.
Toward late afternoon and evening, there's a Stillman Nature Center presentation, bean bag competition, a female rock group called "Catfight," and music by Kraig Kenning, a national slide guitar champion. Wrap things up with the tunes of the Lounge Puppets, a musical tribute to the 80's hair bands.
Saurday, July 4
Find a spot along Dunton or Miner streets to view the annual Fourth of July parade, which winds up at the festival grounds. Theme this year: Land of Lincoln, 200 years of Pioneer Spirit.
Early on at the festival, there's a decorated bike parade, arts and crafts marketplace, a decorated chair competition, pioneer craft exhibits, more pony rides, and Chinese food at Wing Wah's booth.
In the afternoon, there's the Jesse White Tumblers on the tennis courts, and a fun fair for kids, plus an Arlington Hts. Community Band concert, more art exhibits on the tennis courts, face painting, and a Frisbee golf and skills competition on the soccer field on Miner Street.
If you've stuffed yourself with saturated fats, calories, and sugar, check out your cholesterol in the first aid tent. Watch a clown magic show, or get some exercise with punt, pass, and kick football. There's a reptile show, a unicycle act, and more rock music to suit everyone's taste.
Sunday, July 5
The festival reaches a peak with more 3-on-3 soccer, fitness 5K and 10k runs and walks, a pet parade, more arts and crafts, an adult volleyball tourney, bingo (for all ages, really), more pony rides, more Wing Wah's food at the Taste booth, and the McDonald Dance Academy performers.
There's even a watermelon seed spitting contest! (Something for everyone, remember?) And face painting, water fights supervised by the fire department, a decorated cake contest, another clown magic show, a conservation education presentation, and a pie-eating contest.
After the Harper College Steel Drum Band performs at suppertime, the festival closes on the main stage with a presentation by American English, a complete Beatles experience and tribute.
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