For nearly 20 years, Winthrop Harbor has hosted a four-day fair and carnival filled with fireworks, live music, rides, a pie-eating contest – all the activities that scream, “It’s summer.”
And the festival is scheduled even before summer has officially arrived. This year the dates are June 2-5.
“Everybody’s been cooped up inside during winter,” said Scott Fuller, the village’s director of parks and recreation. “The fair is how we kick off the summer season.”
The busiest day is Saturday when people bring their babies and dogs to enter contests, and to vie for the trophy in the annual apple and cherry pie-eating contest, then stay for the evening fireworks.
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Contest registration starts when the park opens Saturday. At 11:30 a.m., judges will vote for the cutest babies, including those with the best hair, best eyes and best smile. At 1:30 p.m., dogs are judged for their tricks and other attributes.
“We also vote for the best owner/dog look-alikes,” Fuller said. “That’s a fun one.”
At 3 p.m., adults and kids dive into the pies.
“Last year, our pageant queens got involved and it turned into a mini food fight,” Fuller said. “It was fun.”
Hillbilly Rockstarz, a Chicago-based country rock band, will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday and the fireworks will go off at about 9:30 p.m.
“No matter where you’re at in the park, you can see the fireworks. It’s an up-close intimate view,” he said.
Libido Funk Circus is returning this year after debuting last year. The group performs 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday.
“They have great energy. They change outfits several times and there’s a lot of audience participation. We’re really excited to have them back,” Fuller said.
His favorite day at the event is Sunday – not because it’s the last day of four days of hard work, but because it’s his day with his 11-year-old daughter.
“I’ll go on the rides with her until I get a headache and say I can’t do this anymore,” he said. “She loves the tilt-a-whirl and the sizzler. We’ll go multiple times, one after the other. She likes to go without a break,” he said. “That’s something I look forward to every year.”
Tickets can be purchased for carnival rides during the event with $20 unlimited wristband specials 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.
The recreation department also will host food concessions and a beer trailer near the main stage Thursday through Saturday.
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Winthrop Harbor Fair & Carnival
When: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., June 2; 4 p.m. to midnight, June 3; noon to midnight, June 4; noon to 7 p.m., June 5
Where: 38-Acre Park, 2700 9th St., Winthrop Harbor
Tickets: Free; carnival rides and contest entry fees extra
Information: 847-872-3846;
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance reporter.