A number of firsts await individuals attending this weekend’s Darienfest.
From a Taste of Darien featuring Darien Chamber of Commerce members to a new layout of the event at Darien Community Park, located at 71st Street and Clarendon Hills Road, a new festival is on tap for visitors
“At the beginning of the year, we thought the event needed rebranding,” said Clare Bongiovanni, president and CEO of the Darien Chamber of Commerce. “It has a new logo – the balloons (on the logo) give it a festive feel.”
The 28th annual Darienfest will also feature Miskatonic Brewing Company, a local brewery that opened last month.
“It is great to have a hometown brewery at the fest,” Bongiovanni said. “I am excited for them. They have created three special brews for the fest; and they will be explaining their products.”
A “Darien’s Got Talent” competition will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday. The contest is the combining of two previous Darienfest contests.
“We had done ‘Idol’ and ‘Battle of the Bands’ and people would ask, “Can we be a duo? Can we have three people? Can we have guitars?” Bongiovanni said, noting doing a “Darien’s Got Talent” eliminates those questions.
More Top Picks Best Flexible Seating For Classrooms
The entertainment schedule features Andrew Salgado, a Darien native who now lives in Nashville, performing at 4 p.m. Sunday.
Bongiovanni said Salgado’s performance should drive up fest attendance on Sunday.
When the weather is good, the three-day free festival can draw 20,000 to 25,000 people to Community Park, the chamber president said.
Bongiovanni said the event is worthy of attendance.
“It is Darien’s backyard barbecue, its hometown festival,” Bongiovanni said. “It is a mini-Ravinia. People come for the food, music, meet-and-greets and the pet parade.”
Fest hours are 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit darienchamber.com.
Kevin Beese is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.