Windmill City Festival Will Bring Carnival, Music To Batavia Riverwalk

BATAVIA, IL — After a weekend filled with celebrations for the Fourth of July, the events to look forward to in Batavia aren't over. Windmill City Festival is returning with a carnival, food and beverage vendors, live music and family fun from Friday to Sunday.

Hours for the festival, organized by the Batavia Park District and City of Batavia, vary by day. It will be open from 5-11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday in downtown Batavia. The carnival will be open daily on Houston Street. Rides will operate from 5-10 p.m. Friday, from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Friday.

Live music will be presented by bands including Radio Gaga, 7th Heaven, Lounge Puppets and Back Country Roads. Genres will span the gamut, from rock 'n' roll to pop and country music.

Challenges and races are part of Windmill City Festival traditions, and this year activities will include a Diaper Derby where babies can participate in a crawling competition, a golf challenge, and a pet competition where furry friends will compete in five categories: Best Kisser, Best Trick, Highest Jump, Best Costume and Most Unusual.

A community car wash is also slated to take place. Visitors can bring their bikes, and members of the Batavia Bicycle Commission will help them wash their wheels and decorate them.

The Sidewalk Chalk Drawing Contest will take place Saturday, which is also Unplug Illinois Day, where people across the state are encouraged to spend time outside and participate in park district-hosted activities. As part of the drawing contest, competitors of all ages will vie to win People's Choice awards for "Most Uplifting" and "Best of Batavia."

During the three-day festival, the Depot Museum will be open, allowing visitors to pop in, cool off and learn about Batavia's history.

A full schedule of activities can be found on the Windmill City Festival's website.

Ahead of the festivities, organizers are still looking for volunteers to assist at the entrance/exit gates from 8-11 p.m. Friday to make sure people aren't leaving with alcohol. Signs-ups can be found online.