Summer Festival Guide 2019: Kendall And Will County

KENDALL COUNTY, IL — Summer: The season of cookouts, trips to the beach, and local festivals and outdoor events. There's plenty to keep you and your kids busy until school's back in next fall.

Here's a look at what's happening in Will and Kendall counties as things heat up:

Festivals

Yorkville River Fest

Yorkville's River Fest returns to Riverfront Park, 131 E. Hydraulic Ave., Friday and Saturday, July 12 and 13. The event offers free admission, plus food, live country music, a cardboard canoe race ($10 per boat to build off site, $15 per boat to build on site), family fun and more. Back Country Roads performs Friday (7 to 10 p.m.) and on Sunday, acts are Nashville Electric Company (3 to 6 p.m) and Whiskey Romance (7 to 10 p.m.). Also: Enjoy craft brews at the Heartland Beverage Craft Beer Tasting, face painting, touch-a-bus, free kids games and more.

Plainfield Fest

Plainfield Fest returns the heart of downtown Plainfield on Des Plaines and Lockport streets for the 37th year on Friday through Sunday, July 19, 20 and 21 with live music, food, a bags tournament and a carnival. Admission is free and concessions and drinks will be for sale. Carnival rides require tickets; carnival hours are 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. This year's Saturday headliner is "Wild Thing" rapper Tone Loc with Maggie Speaks. Other musical acts include American English, Back Country Roads, Plainfield native Eric Chesser and more. The Midwest Bags Tournament returns at noon Sunday, July 21. Entry fee is $60 per team.

RomeoFest

The four-day celebration is from Aug. 1 to 4 at Deer Crossing Park and Village Park. As always, the fest offers up live entertainment, a carnival, car show, bingo and more. Stay tuned for updates on this year's live music lineup.

Kendall County Fair

Celebrating 27 years at the Kendall County Fairgrounds, the event is from Aug. 1 to 4. Featuring carnival rides, a truck and tractor pull, live music, a demolition derby and many other entertaining events. The fair also has entertainment for children, including a petting zoo, pony rides, talent competitions and commercial exhibits. Find a full schedule of events on the website.

Shorewood Crossroads Fest

The annual event is from Aug. 2, 3 and 4, at Cene's Four Season's Park, 25520 W. Seil Road, featuring a parade, car show, live music and more. General admission is $5 to the entertainment/Eat Street area beginning at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. A special needs event is set for 1 to 3 p.m. Friday for those in wheelchairs or with crowd and noise issues: "The rides will be slowed down a bit, lights and music will be turned off and 'friends for the day' will be provided to lend a helping hand to the families." Register for the special needs event by July 15. Contests include a baby contest, pie-eating contest, hot wing-eating contest and hot dog-eating contest. Live music includes Heart to Heartbreaker and Brushville on Friday; the Millennials, Boy Band Review and Hi-Infidelity on Saturday; and Billy Elton on Sunday.

Montgomery Fest

Montgomery Fest will offer special events including fireworks, petting zoo, a carp derby, talent show, car show, craft and business booths, live entertainment and a parade, lasting Aug. 9, 10 and 11. Stay tuned for updates.

Taste of Bolingbrook

Sample local fare at this free event on Saturday, Aug. 10. Stay tuned for details.

Will County Fair

The 116th Will County Fair is from Aug. 21 to 25 at the Will County Fairgrounds, 710 W South St. in Peotone. This year's event features a demolition derby, tracker and truck pull, baby show, chili cookoff and more. Find the full schedule of events on the website.

Brews & BBQ

Set for 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22 starting at Garage Band Brewing/Station One Smokehouse on Des Plaines Street in downtown Plainfield. Enjoy food, live music, craft beer and more in support of a good cause, the PACC Career Readiness Scholarship Fund. Tickets start at $40 and include live music, 1 BBQ food ticket at Station One BBQ and 3 drink coupons at Garage Band Brewing. Featuring live music from AD3 Acoustic Trio.

Great Joliet Prison Break-In

The second annual Great Joliet Prison Break-In returns to the old Joliet prison on Collins Street — made famous in "the Blues Brothers" — from 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24. Tickets to the fundraiser for the upkeep and restoration of the prison are $40. Performers include The Ides of March, The Nikki Hill Band, Hot Mess featuring Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk, and Great Moments in Vinyl. The 2018 inaugural event inside the limestone walls of the world-famous 1858-era prison on Joliet's east side raised nearly $135,000.

Yorkville Hometown Days

This kicks off Thursday, Aug. 29, lasting through Sunday, Sept. 1 in Beecher Community Park, 908 Game Farm Road. The United City of Yorkville had this to say about the fest and carnival: "The 2019 Hometown Days Festival is a family-oriented event that provides entertainment for the entire family to enjoy! This year we are excited to bring back past favorites including the Ultimate Air Dogs Competition, Baby Contest, Big Band & BBQ, Pride and Joy Car Show, and an exciting lineup of Musical Entertainment." This year's live music will include the Little Mermen, Whiskey Romance, John King, Boy Band Review, 7th Heaven and Hi-Infidelity.

Free Concerts

Bolingbrook's Summer Concert Series is from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 28; the Rock Bottom Concert Series at the Promenade Bolingbrook is at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 29. Free. Acts include Cadillac Groove, Boy Band Night, Wild Daisy, Centerfold and more.

Plainfield Concerts In The Park. June 13: Johnny Russler & The Beach Bum Band; July 18: Shout Out; Aug. 1: Rosie & The Rivets. Free. Concerts start at 7 p.m. in Settlers' Park.

Rockin' The Ville, Romeoville. June 13: 7th Heaven; June 27: Scott Marek Band; July 11: Too White Crew; July 25: Voyage; Aug. 8: Soul Papas; Aug. 22: Maggie Speaks. Free. Concerts are at 6:30 p.m. in Deer Crossing Park.

Movies In The Park

Romeoville Movies Under the Stars. June 17: "Ralph Breaks the Internet;" July 15: "Incredibles 2." Free. Movies start at 8 p.m. at Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park.

Movies in the Park, Plainfield. June 21: The LEGO Movie 2; July 12: Ralph Breaks the Internet; July 26: Incredibles 2. Free. Movies start at 8:30 p.m. in Settlers' Park.

Oswego/Yorkville Movies In the Park. June 20: The Secret Life of Pets at Oswego Village Hall; July 18: Mary Poppins Returns at Oswego Village Hall; August 8: The Greatest Showman at the Oswego Park N Ride. Free. Movies start at dusk on an inflatable screen.

Bolingbrook Movies in the Park. June 20: "LEGO Movie 2," Village of Bolingbrook Performing Arts Center; July 18: "The Grinch," AMITA Healthy Adventist Medical Center Bolingbrook; July 29: "Spider-Man: Into The Spiderverse," Bull Dog Park. Free. Movies are at 8:15 p.m. Thursdays.

Farmers Markets

Plainfield Farmers Market, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 15 behind the Plainfield Public Library, 15025 S. Illinois St.

Yorkville Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through Aug. 24 at Town Square Park, 301 N. Bridge St.

Oswego Country Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 29 in downtown Oswego.

Route 66 Street Market, 4 to 8 p.m. June 12, July 10, Aug. 14, Sept. 11 and Oct. 9 on Chicago Street between Van Buren and west Jefferson streets.

Promenade Bolingbrook Street Market, 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sept. 12 at the Promenade Bolingbrook, 631 E. Boughton Road.

Want more summer fun?

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• Celebrate 45 Years Of 'Concerts On The Hill' This Summer