Fun on a budget
By MEG HANDLEY - editorial@nwherald.com
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| Erik Empie, 19, of Algonquin sits up against a ride called Predator while waiting Thursday for friends to get off another ride during Cary Days at Lion's Park in Cary. (Justin Edmonds – jedmonds@nwherald.com ) |
The smell of roasting corn, Chicago-style hot dogs and funnel cakes wafted through the air as hordes of McHenry County residents filed into Lion’s Park for the kickoff Thursday of the 16th annual Cary Days festival.
While packs of patrons flocked to the carnival rides and games that peppered the fairgrounds, others meandered to sample tasty treats on sale from local vendors such as Brother’s Ribs and Tapatio.
Although the four-day festival sponsored by the Cary-Grove Jaycees has been a perennial summer starter for years, organizer Kelly Hulata said the sour economy definitely played a role in planning this year.
“Sponsorship was a little bit tougher this year,” Hulata said.
Even so, Hulata said organizers decided not to raise the price of wristbands this year.
Patrons can pay $20 for a wristband, which provides one-day unlimited access to festival rides. Individual tickets for rides are available for purchase as well.
“We’re just trying to help out everyone in the community,” she said. “We are in hopes that more people will come this year.”
More visitors would mean more funding for the community programs that the Jaycees sponsor year round, Hulata said. Along with Christmas tree sales in the winter, proceeds from the summer festival comprise the bulk of organization’s budget, which funds activities like the Easter egg hunt and food pantry drives.
“This is our bread and butter to raise money to help out the community the rest of the year,” Hulata said.
In addition to food and fun, local bands like Alex and the Allstars and the Blind Roosevelts will perform in the evenings. Cary Days continues through Sunday and will conclude with a fireworks finale.
