The Goose Is Loose in downtown Libertyville – this year Rotary moves annual festival to Church Street

Last year, they had goose droppings all over the place, figuratively speaking, of course. This year, they won’t have that mess but, as the folks at Libertyville Sunrise Rotary Club put it, The Goose is Loose on Church Street in downtown Libertyville.

Actually, the story isn’t as shocking as that might sound. The Goose Droppings of 2010 refers to parachuting toy geese that were dropped on targets out at the Libertyville Sports Complex. The descending geese represented opportunities for cash prizes. This year, after five years at the Sports Complex, the Rotary is moving the event to the downtown Libertyville district.

Major similarities between this year’s and previous events include the level of entertainment and fun available, the opportunity to win substantial prizes and the chance to support area charities.

“This is reinventing the Goose Is Loose event,” said Scott Hezner, a member of the Rotary’s committee coordinating the event. “Downtown, it really takes on a different feel than it did at the Sports Complex. It will be like a big party downtown.”

The event will include two bands with credentials to draw crowds in their own right. It will also include delectable cuisine from area restaurants and beer, wine and pop concessions. Rotary is in the process of locking down the entertainment and will announce the names of the bands and food vendors in the near future. Suffice it to say that the level of entertainment will make attendance well worth the effort.

Hezner said that the event has always taken a great deal of effort to accomplish and moving the event to a new location will increase the work load, at least for the first year.  However, he said the Village of Libertyville has really stepped in to help out. That’s even more significant since, as Hezner explained, not all local governments are as enthusiastic about helping organizations with events like this.

“A lot of times, communities really wrestle with groups trying to do stuff like this,” Hezner said. “Here in Libertyville, we have great synergy.”

He said village officials know what it takes to put on an event like this: where to hook up water and electric, what is involved in shutting down a street, putting up a tent of that size. Having helped many other organizations put on festivals in the downtown district, the village is well aware of what needs to occur.

The primary focus of the event is on raising funds to help organizations that assist people in need. Those groups include:

• Lake County Haven
• Rebuilding Together
• Bernie’s Book Bank
• David Adler Cultural Center
• Healthreach
• Illinois Fire Safety Alliance
• Maristella
• SEDOL Foundation
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Lake County
• Fit Teen Moms
• Helping From Heaven/Kazian Foundation
• LHS Topcats Mentoring
• Youth Conservation Corps
• Mothers Trust
• Bear Magic
• Career Resource Center
• Free Spirits
• Holy Family Food Pantry
• LHS Stars Special Olympics Swim Team
• Reading Power
• Youth and Family Counseling
• Center for Independent Living
• Great Lakes Adaptive Sports
• I-Plus Lake County and Senior Council of Libertyville.

A portion of the proceeds raised will also benefit international projects.

“Considering the economy, charities need all of our help more than ever,” said Hezner.

Hezner said people can learn more about the event by visiting Sunrise Rotary’s website at: www.gooseisloosefestival.com.

Raffle tickets are also available on the site at $25 each. The Grand Prize is $15,000. There are also 10 $1,000 prizes, 10 $500 prizes and other prizes.