The MidWeek / ShawLocal.com • Wednesday, Jun 1, 2022 MIDWEEK
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COVER STORY
HELLO, SUMMER: By KATRINA J.E. MILTON kmilton@shawmedia.com
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chool’s out for the summer, and festivals are just getting started. Katherine McLaughlin, marketing director with the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said she is looking forward to this summer’s lineup of festivals. “At the CVB, we’re excited about the fest, especially the new fests that are being added,” McLaughlin said. “It’s exciting to see each fest grow through the years. We get phone calls about fests that started small, and now everyone outside the county is looking forward to them.” McLaughlin said the events offer unique experiences for residents of DeKalb County and the surrounding areas. Krissy Johnson, executive director of the Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce, said she is looking forward to holding events again in person after two years of virtual and limited programs. “What I’m looking forward to the most is having people gathering again and seeing people’s faces as they’re exploring Genoa,” Johnson said. “There has been a lot of adaptation the last few years. Some events were held, but we’re looking forward to things being in full swing this year.” Here’s a list of local festivals to attend from now through Labor Day in September:
Genoa Days Dates: June 8-11 Place: Downtown Genoa The 86th Genoa Days is a fundraising carnival hosted by the Genoa-Kingston Fire Department and is put on by Skinner Amusements. The four-day festival will include amusement rides, nightly entertainment, food games and live music. Ride wristbands cost $25 each. The parade will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 11. Malta Days Dates: June 10-12 Place: Lions Park in Malta The three-day festival will feature rides by Zeiler Amusements, games, food, a beer garden, sound stage and more. On Saturday, June 11, a pancake breakfast will be held at 6:30 a.m., a 5K tractor trot and fun run will begin at 8 a.m., the car show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the arts, crafts and business show will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 12.
Pride Fest Date: June 23 Pla ce: Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. in DeKalb The Egyptian Theatre, Safe Passage, Sycamore Public Library, Queer-Oriented Rural Resource Network, Grace Place, Hometown Sports Bar & Grill, Youth Outlook, 94.9 WDKB and S.O.A.S. are hosting a free event for the community during Pride Month. The event will feature a short Pride march, a viewing of the film “Tangerine” and a post-movie discussion. The film is intended for mature audiences. Greek Fest Dates: June 25-26 Place: Hopkins Park in DeKalb The event will feature authentic Greek food, homemade Greek pastries, food available for carryout, Greek and American music, arts and craft vendors and Little O’s Frozen Treats trailer. Fourth of July Festivals Dates: July 1-4 Place: DeKalb, Kirkland and Sandwich In addition to fireworks, there also will be festivals held in conjunction with Independence Day. DeKalb’s Fourth of July fireworks and celebration will be held July 4 at Hopkins Park. The celebration will include an Independence Day 5K and 10K, food vendors, relay races, games, activities and strolling entertainment, an animal and reptile show, live music, a DeKalb Municipal Band concert and fireworks. Kirkland Lions Club’s Fourth of July Festival will be held July 1-4. The festival will include a carnival, a 50/50 raffle, concerts and live music, bingo, a bags tournament and more. A car show will be held Sunday, July 3, and a parade and fireworks on Monday, July 4. Sandwich Park District’s Freedom Days will feature a parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 2, and fireworks at the Sandwich Fairgrounds. The Freedom Run, including a 1-mile fun run and walk and a 5K race, will begin at 8 a.m. Sunday, July 3, at James Knights Park, 1001 Latham St. Sip ’n’ Savor Date: July 9 Place: Sycamore Community Park This inaugural event will offer craft spirits, unique food and artisan vendors of all types. Bacon Fest Date: July 9
Here’s your guide to summer festivals in DeKalb County
Place: Warehouse on Park in Genoa There will be a variety of bands playing live music, multiple food truck vendors and Byers Brewing will sell a special bacon beer. This event is for ages 16 and older. Waterman Summerfest and Antique Tractor Show Date: July 16 Place: Lions Park in Waterman The event will feature kids’ activities and entertainment, a craft show and flea market, food, a carnival, a tractor and truck parade of power, a pedal pull, beer garden, kids and adults bags tournaments, live music, a pork chop barbecue, a drawn down raffle and fireworks. Throwback at the Park Date: July 16 Place: Hopkins Park in DeKalb Co st: Early bird prices before July 1 include disc golf, $16 residents, $20 nonresidents; craft beer fest only, $35 residents, $44 nonresidents; combo pass, $48 residents, $60 nonresidents; and non-drinker wristband, $10 residents, $13 nonresidents The inaugural craft beer and disc golf festival is hosted in collaboration by the DeKalb Park District, Byers Brewing and the Phenix Disc Golf Club. Th festival will include a new temporary disc golf course, a family disc golf section, a craft beer festival featuring beers from at least six different breweries, food trucks, local bands and more. The afternoon will conclude with headliner music and cash bar sales. Fizz Ehrler Memorial Turning Back Time Car Show Date: July 31 Place: Downtown Sycamore The car and motorcycle show will also include a 50/50 raffle. The event raises funds for local nonprofit entities and organizations. Cortland Summerfest Dates: Aug. 5-6 Place: Cortland Park Cost: $5 for adults 21 and older The event, presented by the Cortland Fire Department, will feature fireworks, live music, a bags tournament, free family activities, and a car, motorcycle and apparatus show. Sycamore Steam Show and Threshing Bee Dates: Aug. 11-14 Pla ce: Taylor Marshall Farm, 27707 Lukens Road Co st: $7 adults, children younger than 12 enter free
Daily activities include a sawmill and shingle mill in operation, Flink fan in operation testing horsepower, silo filling, corn shelling, wheat grinding, field plowing, a display of steam and gas engines, gas tractors, antique cars and other antique power equipment, the Prairie State Scale Railroad, a large flea market, live music and food vendors. Cruisin’ to Genoa Date: Aug. 20 Place: Downtown Genoa The car, motorcycle and truck show will award more than 30 trophies and will feature a 50/50 raffle. Corn Fest Dates: Aug. 26-28 Place: Downtown DeKalb Co st: Free to attend, sound stage admission costs $8 for a daily pass or $20 for a weekend pass before Aug. 1 or $10 for a daily pass or $25 for a weekend pass after Aug. 1 Corn Fest will feature three days of live music, about 100 vendors, carnival games and rides and free corn. The Chuck Siebrasse Corn Boil, featuring free ears of corn steamed by a steam traction engine, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. This year’s sound stage headliners will be Voices of Classic Rock, featuring Billy Champlin, formerly of Chicago, John Payne, formerly of Asia, and Fran Cosmo, formerly of Boston. Voices of Classic Rock will perform from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. Sycamore Ribs Rhythm and Blues Date: Aug. 27 Place: Downtown Sycamore Guests can raise their glasses and sip craft beer from across the nation. Ribs and side dishes will be served up by multiple vendors and compete for the title of RR&B Fest Champion. This year’s music headliner is Back Country Roads. Sandwich Fair Dates: Sept. 7-11 Place: Sandwich Fairgrounds Co st: Adult $10; ages 6 to 12, $7; ages 5 and younger, free This year’s fair will feature food, a carnival and animals and homemade items on exhibit. On Wednesday, Sept. 7, there will be harness racing and an equipment vendor showcase; on Thursday, Sept. 8, truck pulls; on Friday, Sept. 9, a concert with country music artist Trace Adkins; on Saturday, Sept. 10, tractor pulls; and on Sunday, Sept. 11, an antique car show and demolition derby.
