Uncle Kracker Headlines Oswego PrairieFest; 5K And Parade Return

OSWEGO, IL — After a year on hiatus, Oswego's PrairieFest is just around the corner. The favorite event, traditionally held around Father's Day, is taking place Labor Day weekend under the theme "Happy Days Are Here Again."

Along with a carnival, brought by Windy City Amusements, there'll be a slate of musicians performing at PraireFest Sept. 3-6, including Uncle Kracker, known for his hit songs "Follow Me" and "Smile." The singer-songwriter will headline the festival starting at 9 p.m. Sept. 4.

Friday night at the festival this year is reserved for flashback concerts, with bands including Jeff & Kurt's Acoustic Refreshment and Beyond the Blonde scheduled to perform. Prairie Station, Nick Lynch Band and Whiskey Romance are headlining the festival Sunday. Closing out the festival, Swing Assembly will perform Monday.

Musicians won't be the only ones putting on shows over the weekend. Visitors can see the Flippenout Trampoline Show all weekend and indulge the laser light show Saturday and Sunday — all with free admission.

PrairieFest's traditional parade, described as one of the "finest, most entertaining parades" by the park district, will step off at 1 p.m. Sept. 5. Throughout the weekend, local businesses, organizations and crafts will be showcased at the Expo Village event.

The PrairieFest 5K is also returning this year, followed by the One Mile Prairie Dog Jog race at the Prairie Point walking path. Registration for the event is $35 through Aug. 26 and increases to $45 on race day. 5K runners will start at Prairie Point Park, 313 E. Washington St., at 8 a.m. Sept. 6, and one-mile joggers will start at 8:10 a.m.

Carnival-goers will be able to purchase unlimited ride wristbands for $30. The price goes down to $25 for the carnival Sept. 6. To help those with special accommodations, the carnival will operate without lights, music and adjusted speed where possible — with tickets costing $10 — from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 3.

Organizers postponed PrairieFest, taking place at 91 Plank Road, to September this year due to pandemic-related restrictions, instead putting on the first-ever Summer Carnival Father's Day, giving residents two weekends to celebrate rather than just one.

RELATED: PrairieFest Moved To September Amid Pandemic

"We're starting to see some strange benefits to taking a year and modifying everything, and one of them is having two weekends to celebrate as a community," Superintendent of Events and Cultural Arts Kristie Vest told Patch earlier this summer. "We're going to wrap it up with a bow at PrairieFest."

Next year, the event will return to Father's Day weekend, and Vest said it's possible the Oswegoland Park District could add a second event to its roster if it's something the community wants.

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