Downtown Palatine Street Fest Expected To Break Even

The 2011 Downtown Street Fest is expected to break even this year, according to village officials.

The event now in its 12th year, is run and managed by the village. Street Fest had a budget of about $200,000, said Assistant Village Manager Sam Trakas. Although final numbers are not yet available, Trakas said based on preliminary information he expects Street Fest to break even as it did last year.

The festival ran from Friday Aug. 26 to Sunday Aug. 28 and included live bands, family-friendly games and activities, booths
where non-profits highlighted their missions and a taste of the cuisine of local restaurants.

“We average around 40,000 people this year as we do every year, and the beautiful weather over the weekend certainly helped,” Trakas said.

Street Fest began in the summer of 2000, with the intention of providing local businesses, restaurants and non-profit organizations an opportunity to showcase themselves.

“Street Fest is truly a village of Palatine festival; it went great this year from the musical entertainment to the sampling of local cuisine and all of the other activities,” Trakas said. “And everyone who
volunteered made it an overall great event.”

Trakas said the festival wouldn’t be possible without the many volunteers who donate their time.

“All of the village employees give back to the community through volunteer and support; each year more than 200 people including employees, their family members and friends and representatives from local non-profits help make the event a success,” Trakas said.

“Street Fest has a ‘break even’ budget; which is the ultimate goal, to break even,” Trakas said. “That is achieved through fees, sponsorships and revenue sources such as ticket sales for food and beverages.”