North Chicago Community Days continues to offer the most innovative approach to summer festivals in Lake County, according to Nicole Kneeland-Woods.
The event, Friday through Sunday, begins with a United for Peace Rally at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
“It’s really relevant now with things going on in the world,” said Kneeland-Woods, North Chicago Community Days coordinator.
It hearkens to the wishes of Mayor Leon Rockingham, Jr., who founded the event 11 years ago, she said.
“The mayor wanted to bless the event by having the camaraderie of all different nationalities and different religions,” she said.
It began as a one-day event and in a few years, it became nearly three days, and officials soon began the peace rally.
“It brings different ministries together,” she said of the peace rally. “Pastors from different churches give an inspirational speech, and they talk about the community and what it means to be diverse and come together as a whole.”
The rally is held on a huge stage where participants can then enjoy two Latin bands performing followed by the North Shore Line Dancers. The group, with dancers from North Chicago, Waukegan, Zion and Gurnee, will lead participants through five different line dances.
“This is the experience of different cultures coming together,” Kneeland-Woods said.
This year’s theme is North Chicago Rocks.
A traditional 5K run will take place Saturday, “but we’re going to make it a little bit more fun this year by giving participants white shirts, and as they run through the stations, color powder will be sprinkled on their shirts,” she said. “It creates a good photo opportunity at the end of the race, and people can see what stations they were able to get through,” she said.
The 5K run is for anyone, she said.
“It can be a fitness walk. Women even come out with their strollers and push their children.”
Following the 5K, more than 65 floats will appear in the annual parade at 10 a.m.
“It’s doubled over what we had last year,” Kneeland-Woods said. “We’re really excited about it. We have the Great Lakes Naval Band and Elite Striders Drill Team and Drum Corps.”
The Wheels of Lake County Car Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, with 20-30 entries of classic cars that will line up along Lewis Avenue, she said. Judges will award prizes to the most creative floats in the parade and the best cars in the show.
Saturday also features a longstanding event, the basketball tournament. Youngsters play three-on-three in eight-minute games and receive prizes.
“We have on-site registration for that,” Kneeland-Woods said. “People can form their teams right there on the spot.”
Also during the day, parents can secure free back-to-school backpacks and books for their children while supplies last.
Food vendors will offer barbecue, funnel cakes and “the best lemonade you’ll ever taste,” Kneeland-Woods said. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be sold, along with fried Twinkies and other novelty foods, she said.
This year’s Saturday headline is Sweet Diezel Jenkins, who will perform at 7:30 p.m.
“They play a mixture of music — soul, country, R and B and jazz,” she said.
Also throughout the day, people can listen to a Latin band and a jazz band, among other local musicians.
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For the kids and even adults, the event will feature inflatables, a rock-climbing wall, a face painter, a caricature artist and a petting zoo.
The only annual fireworks show from North Chicago will happen Saturday night.
“It’s a really big thing,” she said, adding “everything is free except for the food,” and the event is paid for by local sponsors.
The festival ends with a gospel concert on the lawn Sunday starting at noon.
“It’s really uplifting and inspirational,” Kneeland-Woods said. “We want to end with a positive, motivational-type event.”
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance writer.
North Chicago Community Days
When: Friday through Sunday
Where: Foss Park 1730 Lewis Ave., North Chicago
Cost: Free
Information: 847-596-8600; 60064.org