Fate Decided: Plainfield Fest Set For Mid-July

PLAINFIELD, IL — Bands, food vendors and the Midwest Bags Tournament are all returning to Plainfield next month. Organizers of Plainfield Fest recently announced this summer's festival itinerary, set to take place July 16 to 18.

Bands scheduled to perform throughout the festival weekend include Mike & Joe, Don't Matter to Me, Too Fighters and 7th Heaven. Plainfield Fest will run from 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. It will be located in downtown Plainfield, though a specific address has not been announced.

Wristbands for the beer tent will cost $5, and each beer ticket — which includes wine — is $5, or $20 for five. Those under 21 won't be allowed into the beer tent and entertainment area after 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, no age restrictions apply to the area, according to the festival's Facebook page, which appears to have been reactivated.

One of Plainfield Fest's hottest attractions is the bags tournament, which is advertised to be the "biggest and best ever" this year, with more than $3,000 available in cash prizes awarded to both the championship and consolation brackets. In the past, the tournament has been capped at 64 teams but this year, it's being upped to 80. Every team is guaranteed to play a "minimum of five games" since a pool play is being implemented before bracket place.

Organizers noted the information surrounding the festival "cannot be guaranteed."

The announcement came on Facebook a day after a piece was published on Patch about the festival's then-unknown fate. Rob Epley, the executive director of the Plainfield Riverfront Foundation, was quiet earlier this month when reporters asked about the fest.

In a later email to Patch, Epley said COVID-19 restrictions got in the way of an earlier announcement of the festival's happenings, and he said he chose not to share details until all was finalized.

Related: Plainfield Fireworks, Patriotic Picnic Canceled For Second Year

Plainfield Fest is one of the events coming back in Plainfield this summer, along with Cruise Nights and the Plainfield Farmers Market.

The village's Patriotic Picnic and Fourth of July fireworks, typically held July 3, had a different fate, and have been canceled for reasons including being "fiscally responsible and sustainable," officials said.

More information about the festival and bean bag tournament can be found on Plainfield Fest's Facebook page.

Editor's note: The story has been updated to reflect the fact that the village is not involved in planning Plainfield Fest.