Frontier Days will begin July 1 and summer concerts for both children and adults will return to the village of Arlington Heights in the weeks ahead.
As novel coronavirus pandemic restrictions ease, village and Park District officials – along with local event organizers – are planning to revive some favorite summertime activities that were paused last year.
At the top of that list is Frontier Days annual Fourth of July festival at Recreation Park. Village officials had canceled it earlier this year. Lars Ohrstrom, president of Frontier Days, said the event will run July 1 through July 5, although details are still being finalized.
However, the event will be very different this year.
“There will not be any music, food or alcohol at the event,” Ohrstrom said. “It will just be what the carnival provides this year.”
Just weeks ago, festival organizers contracted with North American Entertainment to provide carnival rides as they typically do on Douglas Avenue at Miner Street. Ohrstrom said the Frontier Days committee has asked the entertainment company to bring additional rides and food for the event beyond the traditional funnel cakes. That is because the main stage live entertainment, along with food and alcohol tents will not be on site this year.
Ohrstrom said in January, volunteers for the festival were surveyed and a majority of the 225 helpers reported they did not feel comfortable volunteering at the festival at that time. Since that was when the entertainment had to be booked, Ohrstrom said the board decided the event couldn’t be hosted the way it had been previously. Frontier Days was also canceled last year.
“With the timing we have, this is the most of what we could do safely since the health and well- being of our [volunteers] is No. 1,” Ohrstrom said. “Mostly what we’re trying to do is create as much normalcy as possible and to give people some option during the Fourth of July. A year from now, we’ll be back with the full machine.”
Typically, the multi-day festival attracts more than 100,000 people, over the course of the event, from Arlington Heights and surrounding suburbs.
Event organizers are working with Arlington Heights police for security and contracting for garbage and sanitation services, officials said.
The Arlington Heights Park District is also opening more this summer as pandemic restrictions lift.
“We are very pleased to open all five of our outdoor swimming pools and as many day camps,” said Carrie Fullerton, executive director. “As guidance continues to change, we’re ready to pivot to serve our residents.”
Last summer, only 50 people were allowed per time slot at three of the district’s pools: at Pioneer, Recreation and Camelot. Now, they are fully open.
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“We are cautiously but optimistically looking forward to a safe and fun summer in Arlington Heights,” Fullerton said.
The Park District is also planning to host summer concerts and movie nights, and perhaps add some larger events in the fall, according to Brian Meyer, director of recreation and facilities.
Kids summer concerts will begin next month on Tuesdays at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum. Online registration is required.
Summer concerts for the family will also be hosted at North School Park on Wednesdays, from July 7 to Aug. 4, Meyer said.
Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelancer.