Journal & Topics Media Group

Elk Grove Ready For Rotary Fest, Hometown Parade


The 2016 Elk Grove VIllage Hometown Parade makes it way down Elk Grove Boulevard. (Journal Photo)

New things are afoot at Rotary Fest, kicking off Elk Grove Village’s summer festivities.

Fest Committee Chairman Bill Marston said there will be more food offerings and a one price daily ticket for carnival rides. The band tent will be located on the other end of the field with live music each night, closer to the church and further away from the high school, to create a more family friendly environment.

Also new this year will be opening ceremonies at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 13, in which the national anthem will be sung after a color guard from the Elk Grove VFW post marches in and presents the colors.

Rotary Fest runs from June 13 to Sunday, June 17 at Rotary Green on Lions Drive, next to Elk Grove High School and Rainbow Falls. On Saturday, June 16, the annual Elk Grove Hometown Parade ends steps away from the fest. Later at dusk, a fireworks show is planned.

This year’s parade grand marshal is Immediate Past Rotary Club President Kitty Weiner. Weiner is being honored for her work in organizing a major fundraiser to pay for a new elevator at the Elk Grove Village VFW Hall. Weiner is also an Elk Grove Village plan commissioner and Community Character Coalition of Elk Grove member.

Kitty Weiner (far right) watches as Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson fills in the amount of money on an over sized check last year from a fundraising effort spearheaded by Weiner collected to fund a new elevator at the Elk Grove VFW Hall on Devon Avenue. Holding check are Fire Chief Richard Mikel (left) and Police Chief Chuck Walsh (right).

“The whole experience has been overwhelming, the generosity of the whole community and what they did for the veterans, this is really about our veterans,” Weiner said.

As is typical for Weiner, she deflected any personal credit. “I feels a little out of place, I just made some phone calls and asked some people to help.”

Last fall an oversized check was presented to VFW members at an Elk Grove Village Board meeting for the elevator project for nearly $179,000. Since then, that number has grown to more than $185,000.

This year’s parade steps off at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 16 moving from Tonne Road and Elk Grove Boulevard, west down the boulevard to Lions Drive at the entrance to Rotary Fest.

This year’s theme for the parade is “Music Through the Ages”. Musical acts include an appearance by (an impersonator of) “The King” Elvis Presley, the Elk Grove High School Marching Band, Proviso West High School Marching Band, Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps and other bands and musical groups.

In all, parade organizers said more than 60 community groups and organizations including the village, library, park district, scout troops, churches and community dance troupes are expected to build floats along the musical theme. Village trustees are expected to dress up as the Village People, the disco band playing the village’s Mid Summer Concert series later this year.

New to this year’s parade will be a canned food collection for the Elk Grove Village food bank at the Presbyterian church on Tonne and Elk Grove Boulevard. Volunteers will push shopping carts to collect food along the parade route.

Rotary Fest tent stands on the Rotary Green near Rainbow Falls.

After Wednesday’s opening ceremonies at Rotary Fest, several hundred special needs children from the Northwest and DuPage County special recreation associations will enjoy a few hours of free carnival rides.

Rotary Fest runs from 6 to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, 2 p.m. to midnight Saturday and 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday.  

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