Fiesta Days opens with carnival, live performances
McHENRY – As Nicole Wollschlaeger and her friends surveyed the carnival grounds at this year’s Fiesta Days, they zeroed in on one ride – the Zipper.
With the anticipation of going on what could be viewed as the scariest ride on the scene, the Lakemoor resident said she was excited to be at the event.
“I always come to Fiesta Days,” she said. “It’s just a good place to meet your friends that you haven’t seen from over the summer.”
The annual McHenry festival, which spans three weekends, opened Friday night with a carnival and live music at Petersen Park.
Wollschlaeger said she was happy that the morning’s clouds had moved aside by Friday evening.
“It was nasty out earlier, but it’s hot now,” she said.
Weather through the weekend is expected to be mostly festival-friendly, with highs in the 80s today and Sunday. However, there is a slight chance of rain today and a chance of thunderstorms Sunday.
The festival was slated to include performances by Goin’ South and the Modern Day Romeos Friday night.
And aside from the carnival rides, there also was a paintball tent, multiple food vendors and even a Meijer’s Virtual Playground, where participants could play Guitar Hero on site.
Kay Rial Bates, McHenry Chamber of Commerce president, said her favorite part of the festivities wasn’t any particular event, though.
“I love watching the crowds enjoying the bands,” she said. “Just seeing them having a good time and also seeing the community drawn together.”
She added that she was looking forward to at least one event in particular, next weekend’s Drum and Bugle Corps Magic Show. It was popular in the 1970s and has been brought back this year with a modern twist – the audience will be allowed to vote via text message for their favorite groups, Rial Bates said.
That is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. July 18 at McHenry West High School, 4724 W. Crystal Lake Road, McHenry.
As for this weekend, the Trippin’ Billies are scheduled to play today at 5:45 p.m., followed by the Gin Blossoms at 9 p.m. That show costs $8 at the gate.
Sunday evening’s show includes The Moods at 3:30 p.m. and The Ides of March featuring Jim Peterik at 5:45 p.m.
Tickets are $5.
If you go
McHenry Fiesta Days runs through July 25. For tickets and information, visit www.mchenrychamber.com.
Today
Petersen Park
Admission: $6 a person in advance; $8 at gate; 12 and younger free
Food and beer: 1 to 11 p.m.
Rides: 1 to 11 p.m. (unlimited ride special 2 to 5 p.m.)
Meijer Virtual Playground: 1 p.m.
Paintball tournament: 1 p.m.; $10 to play; register at www.pappaintball.com
Fiesta Favorite Competition: 1:30 to 5 p.m.; 1 p.m. pre-show performance by Poseidon
Volleyball tournament: 2 p.m.
Harley Motorcycle Show: 1 to 5 p.m.
Uncle Sam: 2 to 5 p.m.
Canoe Challenge (McCullom Lake): 1:30 p.m.
Plywood Boat Challenge (McCullom Lake): 1:30 p.m., orientation; 2 to 4 p.m., building time;
4:30 p.m., race
Performances: 5:45 p.m., Trippin’ Billies; 9 p.m., Gin Blossoms
Sunday
Petersen Park
Admission: $5 adults, 12 younger free
26th Annual Car Show: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Food and beer: Noon to 8 p.m.
Rides: Noon to 10 p.m. (unlimited ride special noon to 3 p.m.)
Meijer Virtual Playground: noon
Men’s Annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at McHenry Middle School.
Volleyball Tournament: noon
Fiesta Favorite Finalists Competition: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.; noon, pre-show performance by Poseidon
Sand Sculpture Contest: 1 to 3 p.m.
Extreme Sports Show: 1 to 3 p.m., skateboard demo
Paintball Tournament: 1 p.m.; $10 to play; register at www.pappaintball.com
Performances: 3:30 p.m., The Moods; 5:45 p.m., The Ides of March featuring Jim Peterik
Monday
Petersen Park
Food and rides (unlimited ride special all evening)
Big Wheels Race: 5:30 p.m., check-in; 6:30 p.m., race begins.
Teen Night: 7 to 10 p.m.; entertainment: The Blue Waves (sponsored by the Kiwanis Noon Club)
Tuesday
McHenry River Run at Veteran’s Memorial Park (sponsored by McHenry Parks and Recreation Department); Check in: 5:45 to 6:20 p.m; 3 Mile Fun Run: 6:35 p.m.; 6.8 Mile Run: 6:45 p.m.
CrimeStoppers Bingo Bash: 6:30 to 10 p.m. at VFW Hall
Wednesday
Open Track Meet at McCracken Field (sponsored by McHenry Parks and Recreation Department); Check in: 5 p.m.; meet, 5:15 to 8 p.m.
Thursday
Veteran’s Memorial Park, 3400 Pearl St.
Food and beer: 5 to 9:30 p.m.
Parade Marshal Ceremony: 7 to 7:30 p.m.
McHenry City Stage Band: 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Friday
Veteran’s Memorial Park, 3400 Pearl St.
Food: 3 to 8 p.m.
Children’s Ice Cream Social: 3 to 8 p.m.: Face-painting, moonwalk, balloonist, games, fingerprinting, fire safety house
Performances: 3 p.m., Children’s Karaoke with Off The Wall Entertainment Services; 4 p.m., CYT “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown”; 5 p.m., Team Dog/Camp Bow Wow Training Demonstrations; 6 p.m., The Martin Lopez Academy, “4 Strings Attached”; 7 p.m., Bill O’Connor, audience participation show
Inside Sidewalk Sales: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. all over town.
July 18
28th Annual Arts & Crafts in the Park: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Park
Outside Sidewalk Sales: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. all over town
Shakespeare in the Park: 4 to 9 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Puppets, sonnets, skits, dancing, stage combat demos. Performance of “Much Ado About Nothing” at 7:30 p.m. by The Riverview Theatre Co.
Drum & Bugle Corps: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at McHenry High School West, 4724 Crystal Lake Road; tickets, $8. Featuring: Chicago Royal Airs; Classic Cavaliers; Northernaires from Menominee, Mich.; Lakeshoreman from Troy, Mich.; Crystal Lake Strikers; Southshore Drill Team
July 19
Parade Activities: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; theme, “Proud to Be an American” at Veteran’s Memorial Park
Jaycees Dinner: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Parade: 1:30 p.m.; Route: Main Street to Green Street to Pearl Street to Riverside Drive to Broad Street
July 25
Family Faith Nite: 4 to 10 p.m. at Petersen Park; tickets, $6 per person in advance, $8 at gate, 12 and younger free. Concessions, games, face-painting, Kid’s Fest sponsored by Mercy Health Systems
Performances: 4 p.m., CYT “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown”; 5 p.m., local worship music led by Katie Yore; 6:15 p.m., Paul Colman; 8 p.m., VOTA (formerly known as Casting Pearls)