|
Date: 2008-08
RIVERFEST EXPRESS AND TROLLEYFEST- TWO GREAT CELEBRATIONS AND ONE GREAT TIME!
It's fun, it's inexpensive and it's close to home. Join your neighbors at
the village of South Elgin's Riverfest Express Aug. 14-17 and the Fox River
Trolley Museum's Trolleyfest Aug. 16-17!
The two celebrations take place side-by-side, just off Route 31 in South
Elgin.
It's the 12th year for Riverfest Express, which takes place in Panton Mill Park, near Route 31 and State Street. It's 28 years for Trolleyfest at the Fox River Trolley Museum, three blocks south of State Street on 31.
This year's Riverfest Express lineup includes two nights of fireworks,
food and beverage booths from more than a dozen local restaurants, music,
carnival rides and attractions, fun and games, a car show and a craft
show.
And once again, everything that can run will run at Trolleyfest. It's a
combination designed to delight the young and old.
Each year, the Fox Valley's most special children get a night of their own to
preview Riverfest Express. This year's “Special Night for Special Children,”
dedicated to physically and mentally challenged children and their families,
is Wednesday, Aug. 13.
Children who register and their families will enjoy free carnival rides,
food and entertainment, provided by local businesses and volunteers. The
Special Night, which was awarded the 2002 Governor's Home Town Award,
draws more children each year. To be part of this special night, you must
register your child in advance. A registration form is available on the
Riverfest Express Web site, at
http://riverfestexpress.com/special_night.html.
Riverfest Express opens its doors to the general public at 5 p.m. on
Thursday, Aug. 14, with carnival rides and food vendors. At 7 p.m., Rick
Saucedo and his Change of Habit Band present an Elvis-inspired show that
will leave you doing a whole lot of shakin.' Only one thing can top Rick
- and that's the fireworks, sponsored by ATM Enterprises, that will close
out the night at 9:30 p.m.
The doors open Friday afternoon at 5. The rock band .08 and Rising
performs at 7 p.m. on the Main Stage, and 7th Heaven follows with
country-rock 9:30-11:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Trolleyfest swings into high gear at the Trolley Museum,
with rides beginning at 11 a.m. and lasting until 6 p.m. both days,
Chicago “L” cars and interurban (inter-city) electric railway cars built
between 1902 and 1959 will be in operation, and the Museum's 1891-vintage
Chicago streetcar RPO, a post office on wheels, will be on display.
Visitors also will be able to pump up and down the museum's Track 3 on a
genuine handcar. Tickets are $3.50 for adults, $2 for seniors and
children 3-11, and children under 3 ride free. All-day tickets are also
available.
Tickets must be purchased separately for Trolleyfest and the carnival rides. Carnival tickets are not good on the museum's trolley cars, nor will museum tickets be accepted by Windy City Carnivals.
The Riverfest Express food vendors and carnival rides begin at noon. On
Saturday, Riverfest Express visitors can check out the Emergency Vehicle
Show in County Park, immediately north of the Trolley Museum. The Craft
Show and Small Business Expo runs 11 a.m.-5 p.m. On the Main Stage,
Village Idol Preliminaries begin at noon, followed at 6:30 p.m. by the
Tin Horse Band, playing country, and Centerline's rock 'n roll begins at
9 p.m.
Riverfest Express and Trolleyfest close Sunday night, but there's plenty
to do all day. Trolleyfest again runs 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Riverfest
Express food vendors open and carnival rides begin at noon. The Car Show
runs 12 noon-4 p.m. in County Park, featuring antique, classic and sports
cars of all types, hosted by John Pullaro and friends; and the Craft Show
and Small Business Expo again runs 11 a.m.-5 p.m. On the Main Stage,
the Village Idol Finals begin at noon. Lucky Town plays rock 'n roll
at2p.m. the Moods present Motown favorites at 5 p.m., and hear the New
Invaders perform a '60s tribute at 7:30 p.m. A fireworks show closes out
Riverfest Express at 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
For more information on Riverfest Express, call (847) 774-1151. For more
information on Trolleyfest, call the museum's information line, (847)
697-4676.
|
