The Palatine Jaycees are once again sponsoring one of the largest festivals in the area in the 57th annual July 4th celebration on July 2nd through July 6th at the Community Park on Palatine Road and Northwest Highway.
"The Festival theme is once again Hometown Fest,” said Liz Noe, Co-Chair of the Festival. "With this theme, we are highlighting the hometown atmosphere that we enjoy here in Palatine. 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 Friday and Saturday (July 4th and 5th) 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 Wednesday, July 2nd, 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 for Individuals with Special Needs. 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.
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"We always plan the Festival so that there is something for everybody," said Jason Foltyn, 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 5th the American Legion Post 690 will be hosting bingo starting at Noon until 6:00 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 1:00 PM for registration at the membership booth and warm-ups with the tournament at 2:00 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.
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"Since families are what bind our community together, we have set aside Sunday, July 6th as Family Day, a day of activities that the entire family can enjoy," said Traci Hinshaw, Co-Chair of the Festival. "From 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM Palatine's families will be entertained with a comedy magic show, face painting, balloon art and activity stations with 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 5th starting at 10:00 AM, will have 80 participants featuring the patriotic music of the Emerald Society, Warriors Drum and Bugle Corps, the Palatine Marching Band and other entertainment. Palatine Township officials will be leading off the parade collecting food and cash donations for the Palatine Township Food Pantry in the 18th annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors food drive.
The most anticipated event during the celebration is the fireworks display. The fireworks show will be held on Thursday 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."
For the second year, the Jaycees in conjunction with the Bike Palatine Club are promoting riding your bike to the fireworks. On Thursday, July 3rd from 6:00 PM until 10:30 PM, the Jaycees and Bike Palatine Club are offering supervised bike parking at the tennis courts on festival grounds.
Throughout the Festival a wide variety of music will satisfy every taste in music. Entertainment begins on Wednesday, July 2nd with Karaoke from 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM. Acoustic pop artist Nicole Ricken leads off Thursday, July 3rd entertainment from 3:00 PM until 4:00 PM followed by RSVP Orchestra from 4:30 PM until 6:30 PM and Felix and Fingers from 7:00 PM until 9:15 PM. The evening’s music ends with rock band Bucket Number 6 from 10:00 PM until Midnight.
Friday, July 4th music kicks off with the Park District Battle of the Bands winner Nothing Yet from Noon until 1:30 PM. Fredonia follows Nothing Yet at 1:45 PM until 3:45 PM and then Jak Tripper takes the stage from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM. Audio Drive from 6:30 PM until 8:30 PM and Well Hungarians from 9:00 PM until Midnight wrap up the evening’s music. Saturday, July 5th entertainment includes Serendipity at Noon until 1:45 PM, Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute band Wall of Denial from 2:15 PM to 4:15 PM and country band Wild Daisy from 4:45 PM until 6:45 PM. The evening wraps up with top ten recording artist Howie Day from 7:30 PM until 9:00 PM and Catfight from 9:30 PM until Midnight.
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, Beef on the Moove, Chicago Classics, Dave’s BBQ, Georgie’s Greek Tasty Foods, Heybeck’s Meat Market, Immanuel Lutheran Church, JJ Twigs, Lee’s Concessions, Lunch Wagon, Pancho’s Mexican Food and Yumz.
The Palatine Chapter of the Jaycees is one of the nearly 100 local Chapters throughout the State and 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.
2014 Hometown Fest Schedule
Wednesday, July 2
Special Needs Carnival
Kathleen Blanck Memorial Carnival 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Carnival 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Carnival Wristbands 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Beverages 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Food 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Entertainment:
Karaoke 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Thursday, July 3
Food 3:00 PM – Midnight
Carnival 3:00 PM – Midnight
Carnival Wristbands 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Beverages 3:00 PM – Midnight
Fireworks Approx. 9:30 PM (dusk)
Entertainment:
Nicole Ricken 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
RSVP Orchestra 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Felix and Fingers 7:00 PM – 9:15 PM
Bucket Number 6 10:00 PM - Midnight
Friday, July 4
Arts & Crafts Expo Noon – 6:00 PM
Food Noon – Midnight
Carnival Noon – Midnight
Carnival Wristbands Noon – 4:00 PM
Beverages Noon – Midnight
Entertainment:
Nothing Yet Noon – 1:30 PM
Fredonia 1:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Jak Tripper 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Audio Drive 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Well Hungarians 9:00 PM - Midnight
Saturday, July 5
Parade 10:00 AM
Arts & Crafts Expo Noon – 6:00 PM
Bingo Noon – 6:00 PM
Food Noon – Midnight
Beverages Noon – Midnight
Carnival Noon – Midnight
Carnival Wristbands Noon – 4:00 PM
Corn Hole Tournament 2:00 PM
Entertainment:
Serendipity Noon – 1:45 PM
Wall of Denial 2:15 PM – 4:15 PM
Wild Daisy 4:45 PM – 6:45 PM
Howie Day 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Catfight 9:30 PM - Midnight
Sunday, July 6
Food Noon – 5:00 PM
Beverages Noon – 5:00 PM
Family Day 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Carnival Noon – 5:00 PM
Carnival Wristbands Noon – 5:00 PM
