Palatine Jaycees sponsor July 4th Festival

The Palatine Jaycees are once again sponsoring one of the largest festivals in the area in the annual July 4th celebration Hometown Fest June 30th through July 4th at Community Park on Palatine Road and Northwest Highway.

"Hometown Fest brings Palatine residents together to celebrate the 4th of July holiday,” said Jennifer Hickman, Co-Chair of the Festival.  "As we always do, we’ve made this Festival for the entire community.  We have events and activities for all ages with the Arts & Crafts Fair/Business & Charity Expo, the ever popular parade and fireworks, Family Day and a wide variety of food and music."

On Saturday (July 2nd) the Arts & Crafts Fair/Business & Charity Expo will have over 70 exhibits of pottery, jewelry, paintings and a wide variety of other unique items.  On Friday, July 1st, the Jaycees will be continuing their tradition of setting aside time during the carnival for individuals with special needs with The Kathleen A. Blanck Memorial Carnival.  Registration will begin 30 minutes before the rides open at 1:00 PM.  Then for two hours until 3:00 PM, individuals with mental and/or physical disabilities and their families are invited to enjoy complimentary rides.

"We always plan the Festival so that there is something for everybody," said Traci Hinshaw, Co-Chair of the Festival.  “The carnival will have midway games and rides for children as well as adults throughout the Festival and will once again this year feature the Mega Pass.  This pass will allow someone to enjoy the rides anytime the carnival is open.  Passes are available online for $70.00 at hometownfest.org.  If individuals are unable to buy the pass online before the Fest starts, passes will be available at the Fest for $80.00.”

Bingo lovers will be able to enjoy their passion at the Festival.  On Saturday, July 2nd the American Legion Post 690 will be hosting bingo starting at 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM in the pavilion.  Anyone bringing a non-perishable food item to bingo for the Palatine Township Food Pantry will receive one free game of bingo.  Also that afternoon, starting at 1:30 PM for registration at the membership booth and warm-ups with the tournament at 2:30 PM, will be the Hometown Toss Corn Hole Tournament.  For $20.00 per team, individuals will be able to compete for prizes and bragging rights throughout Palatine.

"Since families are what bind our community together, we have set aside Sunday, July 4th as Family Day, a day of activities that the entire family can enjoy," said Co-Chair Hickman.  "From 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM Palatine's families will be entertained with face painting, balloon art and activity stations, temporary tattoos, small crafts and painting.  At Family Day, we’ll have something for children of all ages and interests.”

The parade, which will begin on Cedar Street on Saturday, July 2nd starting at 11:00 AM, will have 70 participants, including several acts such as the Flat 43 BMX TEAM, the High School Drum Line, Sam & The Giant Wheel and more.  In addition, the Medinah Shriner's Mini-Choppers Club will be entertaining the crowd along with the West Suburban Shriner Club's "Roaring 57s."

The most anticipated event during the celebration is the fireworks display.  The fireworks show will be held on Sunday evening, July 3rd at approximately 9:00 PM or dusk.  This year’s show will, according to Co-Chair Hinshaw, "incorporate all of last year’s crowd favorite pyrotechnics as well as some that the committee feels the community will appreciate."

Throughout the Festival a wide variety of music will satisfy every taste in music.  Entertainment begins on Friday, July 1st with a 90’s theme that evening.  Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band Funky Monks play from 5:30 PM until 8:00 PM.  No Doubt cover band Don’t Speak follows from 8:30 PM until 9:30 PM.  Boy Band Review closes the first night with your favorite boy band hits from 10:00 PM until 12:00 AM. 

Country band Summer Son leads off Friday, July 2nd entertainment from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM followed by RumorHazit from 2:30 PM until 4:30 PM and Fletcher Rockwell from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM.  Hello Weekend takes the stage from 7:30 PM until 9:30 PM and the evening’s music ends with Chicagoland favorites Mike & Joe from 10:00 PM until Midnight.

Sunday, July 3rd music kicks off with the Park District Battle of the Bands winner from Noon until 1:00 PM.  The Band Castle follows at 1:30 PM until 2:30 PM and then Serendipity takes the stage from 3:00 PM until 4:30 PM.  Cowboy Junkies play from 5:30 PM until 6:30 PM and Hometown Fest favorite Bucket #6 follows from 7:30 PM until 9:30 PM.  Modern Day Romeos will wrap up the evening’s music from 10:00 PM until Midnight.

The entertainment schedule has again been expanded to include live music all day on Monday, July 4th.  The day starts off with the Jaycees new singing competition, Hometown Star, at Noon.  This event invites the public to come cheer on local talent and help decide the winner.  Entertainment continues with Nothing Yet at 1:30 PM until 2:30 PM, Hot Rocks from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM and the GooRoos from 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM.  The evening wraps up with 90’s pop cover band The Personnel from 8:00 PM until 10:00 PM.

For food, some of Palatine's best eateries and civic groups will supply pizza, hamburgers, ribs, ice cream and some international treats to satisfy the heartiest of appetites.  Some of the restaurants and groups supplying food will be American Legion Post 690, Immanuel Lutheran Church, JJ Twig’s, Beef on the Moove, Lee’s Concessions, Christie’s Dairy Delights, Pancho’s Mexican Food, Georgie’s Greek Food, Morke’s Chocolates, Heybeck’s Meat Market and Lunch Wagon. 

The Palatine Chapter of the Jaycees, one of 60 local chapters throughout Illinois, has over 100 members and is one of the largest chapters in Illinois.  The Jaycees provide individuals between the age of 21 and 40 the opportunity to develop personal and leadership skills while serving their community.

The Palatine Chapter holds their monthly general meeting on the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 PM at the American Legion Hall on Palatine Road in Palatine.  For further information on the Palatine Jaycees, membership or any of their sponsored events write to the Palatine Jaycees, Post Office Box 1517, Palatine, IL 60078-1517, call them at 847-604-0288, email them at info@palatinejaycees.org or visit their web site at www.palatinejaycees.org.