Some of the 30,000 to 40,000 people, by organizers’ estimates, who attended Lincolnwood Fest July 28-31 said they felt safer due to the heightened security, from bag checks to fencing to a greater police presence.
“Lincolnwood Fest made changes to security for the festival in partnership with Lincolnwood Police,” said Karen Hawk, director of parks and recreation for the Village of Lincolnwood.
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Chris Serban of Lincolnwood, who was waving to his son on the Freak Out ride at the festival Friday, noticed the additional security.
“We feel a little safer,” Serban said, adding that his family was praying for victims in the Highland Park tragedy on July 4.
There was snow fencing around the event perimeter for swift emergency vehicle access and two monitored entrances. Bag checks were conducted by police.
The designated entrances/exits were, “designed for the safety of all attendees of the festival and carnival,” said Hawk, who oversaw the event.
On Friday evening, Jay Parrott, Lincolnwood chief of police, was on hand to greet fest attendees.
“We have many more police present,” Parrott said. “We have a trailer camera over here that’s center, just recording everything that’s going on.
“Our goal is to maintain safety and to make sure nothing happens.”
Delilah Bahena, 12, a rising seventh-grader from Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, reacted to the cool breezes while taking a Ferris wheel ride with sibling Amy Galindo, 8, a rising third-grader.
In the next Ferris wheel car were the girls’ family members, sibling Liara Galindo, 1, and parents Jasmine Galindo and Dorian Escobedo.
“When I was younger, I came to little festivals like this and I remember my mom taking me to them,” said Jasmine Galindo.
Marcela Manrique, 7, a rising second-grader from Skokie, was accompanied to rides by parent Ana Manrique. Ride lines became longer on Friday night shortly before sunset.
Despite bag check and safety measures, Ana Manrique commented, “You don’t feel safe anymore. You’re always looking around.”
Friday’s entertainment lineup included two Lincolnwood residents and fan gallery favorites, Gwendolyn Loyd and Mia Cejovic, 17, a rising senior at Niles West High School.
The singers sang in tandem and also performed solos to recorded music.
In the paparazzi fan gallery was Mia Cejovic’s mother Vesna Cejovic, who said her daughter performed as a student while attending Lincoln Hall Middle School.
“She was in all of their productions, she was in all of the choirs there,” Vesna Cejovic said.
Vesna Cejovic said she thought that pairing Gwendolyn Loyd and Mia Cejovic on a large main stage was like a local “got talent” showcase opportunity.
“Lincolnwood’s taking the world by storm,” Vesna Cejovic said about the two singers.
The festival was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and returned in 2021 with COVID restrictions.
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