The Mundelein Community Days Festival has traditionally been one of Lake County’s biggest 4th of July festivals, bringing together live music, carnival rides, kids’ activities and fireworks to help celebrate Independence Day. This year, it returns as a four-day festival after the pandemic forced it to be canceled in 2020 and shortened last year.
Hours for this year’s fest are from noon to 11 p.m. July 1; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 2; 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 3; and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 4.
“We’re excited to be back to a four-day festival,” said Kelsey Langeler, the business services manager for the Village of Mundelein. “It feels like a great way to return to normal.”
It’s no surprise that the organizers are happy to have four full days, as it’s jam-packed with events to appeal to just about everyone.
More Top Picks Best Digital Highlighters For Studying
“It’s been a family favorite for decades,” Langeler said. “Everyday there’s something new and interesting to do.”
Live music starts on Friday night, with Second Hand Soul taking the stage at 7 p.m., covering a wide range of artists from Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight to Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Following them will be Led Zeppelin cover band Kashmir, which starts at 8:30 p.m. on the main stage.
Saturday’s music starts at 5 p.m. with a performance by Kevin Purcell & the Nightburners, a blues band, followed by longtime Chicago-area favorite 7th Heaven starting at 8:30 p.m.
On Sunday, RealTime Noise, which plays classic rock and R&B, hits the main stage at 5 p.m. It’s followed by Gina Gonzalez and the Wingmen, a band that covers ’90s alternative rock, at 8:30 p.m.
On the show’s final day, Brass from the Past kicks off the music at 4 p.m. This large cover band features a six-piece horn section and a four-piece rhythm section and performs everything from Motown to contemporary hits. Closing out the festival at 7:30 p.m. is Brushville, a four-piece, country-influenced band known for its harmonies and energetic live shows.
The carnival will be held over all four days of the festival, as will a food area offering a variety of cuisines.
“We’ll have at least 14 food vendors there, and most of them are local restaurants, which is great,” Langeler said.
You’ll find face painting, a petting zoo, pony rides, a ride on a fire engine and other activities aimed at keeping the young ones entertained.
“We really have a lot of kids’ activities every day,” Langeler said. “You can bring the kids just about any time, and they’ll be able to do a craft or enjoy some kind of a show in addition to all the other events we have going on.”
Adults may want to try the horseshoe or bags tournament, plus there’s a classic car show on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Santa Maria west lot.
“There are lots of prizes with that one, so we tend to attract a lot of car enthusiasts,” she said.
Other activities over the weekend include performances by local groups — like the McNulty Irish Dancers — a watermelon eating contest, a reptile show and the Freedom Classic 5K run/walk that takes place the morning of July 4. The event concludes with a fireworks show starting at about 9:30 p.m. on Independence Day.
“It’s a great show, and it brings everyone in the community out to see it,” Langeler said.
Mundelein Community Days
When: July 1-4
Where: Kracklauer Park, 116 N. Lake St., Mundelein
Tickets: Free
Information: 847-949-3223; mundelein.org/community/community-days-2021
Jeff Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.