Fall Fest at Lake Park kicks off September 12

Celebrating its sixth year, Fall Fest, a three-day, family-friendly festival is ready to kick off in just a few days! The event, produced by the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce, the Des Plaines History Center, and the Des Plaines Park District takes place at Lake Park, 2200 Lee Street, on Friday, September 12, from 6:00-11:00pm; Saturday, September 13, from noon to 11:00pm; and Sunday, September 14, from noon to 8:00pm. Admission and parking are free. This annual community event features delicious food and beverages, including beer and a European-style Wine Garden; a KidZone! with crafts, pony rides, kids’ entertainment, and an interactive PlayZone; adult bags tournaments; a custom car show; a Country Fair Tent; an Open Air Market; and some of the best bands around. Kids and families are the focus of Fall Fest each year.

Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4pm, there are unlimited carnival rides for $20 per person, so everyone can enjoy the many different attractions, including a Tilt-A-Whirl, Bumper Cars, a Carousel, and the 55-foot Ferris wheel. The KidZone! is open Saturday and Sunday until 7:00pm and features pony rides, crafts, face painting, pictures taken by the Des Plaines Camera Club, entertainment, and Minute-to-Win-It skills challenges just for kids. For car aficionados, Black Dog Promotions will host a custom car show open to classics, antiques, American muscle cars, and hot rods, on Sunday from noon-4:00pm. On Saturday and Sunday, the Des Plaines History Center Country Fair Tent will have costumed interpreters, a historic display of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway era in Des Plaines, and hand-made crafts available for purchase. This event is a community highlight each year.

“The free entertainment is a big draw to Fall Fest,” said Barbara Ryan, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, “but what festival would be complete without great food?” Patrons can feast on specialties prepared by Charcoal Delights, Olde Town Inn, Evans Place, Miss Cindy, Pancho’s Mexican Food, and Home Bakery, to name a few. “Everyone is invited to Fall Fest to play, party, eat, and enjoy the entertainment,” said Ryan. “We thank Public Works, the Police and Fire Departments, the City of Des Plaines, and the Emergency Management Agency for making this a safe event. We could not put on a festival this grand, however, without the generous support of our sponsors including our Presenting Sponsor Rivers Casino, Millennium Bank, Renewal By Andersen, First Midwest Bank, Des Plaines Community Foundation, Village Bank and Trust, Power Home Remodeling, ComEd, and Eco Tec.For more information visit www.FallFestDesPlaines.com

Fall Fest 2014 Schedule

September 12-14 at Lake Park, 2200 Lee St. in Des Plaines

Free Admission! Free Concerts! Free Parking!

Friday, September 12, 2014 6:00-11:00pm

Free Entertainment on the Main Stage

6:30pm, Sempletons

9:00pm, American English

Food and Beverages, Beer and Wine Carnival Rides, Booths, Games

Saturday, September 12, 2014 Noon-11:00pm

Free Entertainment on the Main Stage

12:30pm, Sol Azteca Dancers – Authentic, traditional Mexican dances

2:00pm, D62’s

4:00pm, CTA Chicago Tribute Anthology

6:30pm, HillBilly Rockstarz

9:00pm, Mike and Joe

Food and Beverages, Beer and Wine Carnival Rides, Booths, Games (Noon to 4:00pm unlimited rides for $20) 7:00pm Adult Bags Tournament Open Air Market (Until 6:00pm)

KidZone! (Until 6:00pm) - Pony rides - Crafts for kids - Free family photos courtesy of the Des Plaines Camera Club - Interactive Playground - Face painting

Entertainment: 12:00pm Zumba with Lisa Carbello. 1:00pm Dave DiNaso’s Traveling World of Reptiles (Sponsored by Izaak Walton League). 2:00pm DePaul Women’s Basketball Team. 3:00pm Master Chung -Tae Kwon Do Demonstration. 4:00pm Mary Macaroni. 5:00pm Minute to Win it.

History Center Country Fair Tent (Until 6:00pm)

Sunday, September 14, 2014 Noon-8:00pm

Free Entertainment on the Main Stage

12:30pm, Artistry in Motion Dancers – Park District in-house dance company

2:00pm, Serendipity

5:00pm, 7th heaven.

Food and Beverages, Beer and Wine Carnival Rides, Booths, Games (Noon to 4:00pm unlimited rides for $20) Open Air Market (Until 6:00pm) Black Dog Productions Car Show (Until 4:00pm)

KidZone! (Until 7:00pm) - Pony rides - Crafts for kids - Free family photos courtesy of the Des Plaines Camera Club - Interactive Playground - Face painting

Entertainment: 12:00pm Radio Disney Road Show, sponsored by the Museum of Science and Industry. 1:00pm Monkey and More. 2:00pm Fire Department Demonstration. 3:00pm Bubble Demonstration. 4:00pm Magician Keith Cobb. 5:00pm Minute to Win It.

History Center Country Fair Tent (Until 6:00pm)