Carnival Firm Backs Out Of Western Springs Fest

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Organizers of the St. John of the Cross Parish Family Festival in Western Springs thought that All Star Amusement would be its carnival operator for this weekend’s festivities.

But shortly after the village signed off on the festival’s temporary use permit July 26, All Star, a subsidiary of Farmland, Indiana-based North American Midway Entertainment, told St. John that it was pulling out. It would have been All Star’s eighth year with the festival.

In a letter to the Village Board, the Rev. Marc Reszel of St. John said the church had already entered into negotiations with All Star when it received the village permit. He said the church presumed the company would be the operator again this year.

“Needless to say, we were totally surprised when we received word from (All Star) the day after the Village Board approved our permit and liquor license that it was terminating negotiations with us,” he said. “The reason it gave was that it was able to secure another opportunity with less restrictive conditions and more favorable economics.”

St. John, he said, sprang into action and found another operator, Lockport-based All Around Amusements.

On Monday, the Village Board approved an amendment to the permit to allow the new operator. All Around's employees have passed background checks, officials said.

In the discussion. Trustee James Tyrrell said he found it “extremely disturbing” that All Star backed out at the last minute, terminating a contract. But Village Clerk Ed Tymick said the contract wasn’t actually signed yet. He said the church believed All Star would proceed because of their long history together.

Tyrrell quipped, “I have a feeling it will be a short history.”

Others laughed.

All Star couldn’t be reached for immediate comment Friday.

The festival lasts through Sunday at the church, 5005 Wolf Road in Western Springs.