Darien Fest Going Back To Parks

DARIEN, IL – Next year, Darien Fest will be held at a local park for the first time since 2019, the mayor announced Monday.

In 2020, the August event was canceled because of the pandemic.

From 2021 to 2023, it was held in Q Bar's parking lot.

After the 2019 Darien Fest, the Darien Park District expressed unhappiness with damage to Darien Community Park.

The district charged the Darien Chamber of Commerce, which runs the annual event. The district said it no longer wanted the event at Community Park. At the time, the city tried to get the district to change its mind.

Next August, Darien Fest will be held at Westwood Park, which is northeast of 75th Street and Fairview Avenue, Mayor Joseph Marchese told the City Council.

"It's right there on 75th Street, so it will have a lot of attention from people driving by," the mayor said. "It's not in a residential neighborhood, which is a big plus."

The event will include a carnival, food trucks, a cornhole tournament, and possibly a charity baseball game between police officers and firefighters, Marchese said.

In other announcements, the mayor said the Darien Lions Club would get to hold Oktoberfest in Community Park next year. And the city can have its summer concerts at that park as well, he said.

Also, the city and the park district are planning to sponsor a winter festival next year at Community Park, Marchese said.

"We have always enjoyed a really good relationship with (the park district)," the mayor said. "This just cements that relationship even more."

Many of the latest developments, Marchese said, are the result of meetings of the Darien Community Action Team. This is a group made up of local organizations that meet monthly and coordinate their activities.

In a news release, the park board's president, Ray Jablonski said, "The Park District looks forward to the fest being held at Westwood Park during this special year, which is also the Park District's 50th anniversary. This will complement the many other celebrations to take place next year."

Darien Fest is planned for Aug. 9 to Aug. 11.