New Lenox Proud American Days Opens Thursday

Photo: ProudAmericanDays.org

A New Lenox summer favorite returns Thursday, featuring old favorites and new additions to draw thousands of Lincoln-Way area residents to the event.

The annual four-day festival, which began in 1984, kicks off Thursday, July 23 with carnival rides and live musical entertainment.

Crowd favorites returning include the baby contest and the New Lenox Fire Foundation’s Controlled Burn Beef Cook-Off fundraiser both on Saturday, and the annual military tribute at 11 a.m. Sunday morning. New this year is the “So You Think You Can Lip Sync” contest, set for Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in the entertainment tent.

A Frozen-themed “Cool Off with Olaf,” event will be offered on the family stage Saturday at 12:30 p.m., featuring appearances by the characters, family games, frozen yogurt samples and a family trivia game show. The fun is free.

Carnival-goers can purchased wristbands for unlimited rides for $30 per wristband per day, which covers five hours of rides. The carnival is open Thursday and Friday from 5:30 to 10:3 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.

Bands set to perform include:

THURSDAY, JULY 23 ($7 cover charge)

• 8 p.m. Maggie Speaks

FRIDAY, JULY 24 ($7 cover charge)

• 5 to 8 p.m. 4Cast
• 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Hairbangers Ball

SATURDAY, JULY 25 ($7 cover charge)

• 5 to 8 p.m. 4Cast
• 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Two White Crew

SATURDAY, JULY 25 (No cover charge)

• 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Makena Hartlin
• 7 to 9 p.m. HillBilly Rockstarz

The New Lenox Food Pantry will be accepting food donations from Friday through Sunday to help fill the pantry.

Proud American Days will take place from Thursday, July 23 to Sunday, July 26 at 601 E. Lincoln Highway, just east of Wal-Mart. An estimated 30,000 people from the Lincoln-Way area and Will County typically attend the four-day fest.

For more information, visit www.proudamericandays.org.