Bands, viewing of the Chicago Bears game, package deals, food and family-friendly areas will be featured at two weekend-long outdoor tented festivals designed to bring the community together and rock in a new season.
The second Tinley Park Rocktoberfest at Bettenhausen Fiat, 17600 Oak Park Ave., offers a $10,000 grand raffle prize and a few changes this year, including daytime being open to attendees under 21.
The new Crestwood Rocktoberfest at Caesar Park, 14111 Kenton Ave., will have a tented beer garden with music by Suburban Cowboy, Infinity and others plus a craft beer expo.
Crestwood Rocktoberfest is presented by the Village of Crestwood in partnership with At the Office Bar & Grill, which opened a year ago in Crestwood.
“It’s music, food, beer and a family-friendly area so there’s something for everybody,” said Tim Newsome, owner of At the Office. “It’s a great community event. Crestwood has been lacking that so it’s exciting to bring it back. It’s something to look forward to every year and a thing of pride for the area.”
When Crestwood Mayor Lou Presta ran for office three years ago, he vowed to bring a festival back to the village, which hasn’t hosted a major fest since 2010.
So when Newsome approached him about collaborating on an event, it was an easy decision.
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“It started as an idea I had to do a small craft beer-tasting event just at our restaurant,” Newsome said. “Then the mayor happened to be here one day for dinner and I thought I’d approach him about a full-blown festival and he was all for it.”
“I’m excited to see this happen for our community and I’d like to build upon it,” Presta said in a press release. “Crestwood had a rich history of hosting festivals and coming together to have fun, but also to support our local non-profits and organizations. We’ll be donating part of the event proceeds to Special Olympics and Big Bikes Helping Little Tykes, which services Children’s Oncology Services.”
The craft beer expo from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday will offer 13 different brews from BrickStone Brewery (Bourbonnais), Tenth and Blake (Chicago), Tocayo Brewing Company (Warrenville), Goodwood Brewery (Kentucky) and Boston Beer Company. A $20 ticket provides 10 3-ounce samples.
All weekend, Coors Lite, Miller Lite, MGD, Redd’s Apple Cider, Blue Moon and Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest will be available in the beer tent. Outside of it, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Mike’s Black Cherry, Corona and Revolution Oktoberfest also will be served.
Food vendors include At the Office, Smokin’ BBQ Kitchen, Famous Dave’s, La Cebollita, Barraco’s, Kenootz Pizza, Zacarelli’s Pizza, Moore’s Ice Cream, Creative ConEcepts and Popcorn Haven.
In Tinley Park, the chamber of commerce’s Rocktoberfest also kicks off Friday, rain or shine.
“The live bands, food and beer are under a tent with heaters. It’s a perfect way to spend a fall day,” said Dana Lahart, Rocktoberfest committee co-chairperson and a chamber board member. “It’s a nice local event that is perfect for downtown Tinley with a nice, small fest feel.”
Tinley Park businesses Salina’s Pasta and Pizza and Ed & Joe’s Restaurant and Pizzeria will serve a variety of dishes at the fest while Rockstar Rodeo and 95th Street Band are among the entertainers.
The chamber has made a few changes to the fest, which drew 1,500 attendees for its inaugural run in 2015, Lahart said.
In lieu of a VIP section, the chamber is offering package deals for $20 that include admission and three drinks, with the Bears package also offering a food item.
Kids also are welcome this year during the day.
“Kids can dance along to the music and play the new quarter-toss game with a variety of prizes for all ages and there’s also a bean bag toss,” Lahart said.
More raffles will be featured this year, with prizes including tickets to a Bears home game. The grand raffle prize is $10,000. Proceeds go to the chamber and various charitable organizations it assists.
Vickie Jurkowski is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Crestwood Rocktoberfest
When: 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday
Where: Caesar Park, 14111 Kenton Ave., Crestwood
Entertainment: World War Me, Déja vu and Infinity, Friday; Justin Russell, J.W. & the Wannabees, Brass Buckle Band and Suburban Cowboy, Saturday; the Boy Band, Sunday following viewing of the Chicago Bears game
Admission: $5, free for kids under 12 daily and for students in spirit wear Friday for high school football night
Information: 708-371-4800 or www.villageofcrestwoodil.gov
Etc.: Bingo noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; craft beer expo 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday; daily 50/50 raffles.
Tinley Park Rocktoberfest
When: 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday
Where: Bettenhausen Fiat, 17600 Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park
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Entertainment: RockStar Rodeo, Friday; Tinley Park High School Titan Jazz Ensemble, And Beyond and Billy’s Boys, Saturday; 95th Street Band, Sunday
Admission: $8 (cash only), free for those under 18 (must be 21 to attend after 6 p.m.); Packages are available at the door, online and at the chamber office for $20, including three drinks, with the Bears package also including a food item.
Information: 708-532-5700 or www.tinleychamber.org
Etc.: Grand raffle tickets are $100 each and available at the chamber office, 17316 S. Oak Park Ave. The winner of the $10,000 grand prize will be announced at the fest Sunday. A raffle ticket includes Sunday admission. Only 200 tickets will be sold.