The annual Grayslake Summer Days has just about everything you could ask for from a family-friendly festival, including a parade, live music, games, rides, food — and even a pie-eating contest.
“This is our big, end-of-the-summer community festival,” said Jordan Debbink-Lesniak, a marketing consultant with the Grayslake Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the two-day event that’s held this year Aug. 19 and 20. “It’s got something for everyone to enjoy.”
That includes a packed lineup of live music, starting on Friday night with a performance from Simply Elton, an Elton John tribute band, starting at 6 p.m. At 8 p.m. A Boy Band Review takes the stage with its tribune to boy bands from the last three decades or so, including Nsync, Boys II Men, New Kids on the Block, the Backstreet Boys and One Direction. At 10 p.m. Hi Infidelity, an ’80s cover band, finishes off the evening.
On Saturday, the festival features two different parades: The kids’ bike and pet parade is first at noon, with children invited to bring their pets — as long as they’re leashed or in a cage — to take part. Kids decorate their bikes or dress in costumes, often with their pet.
“It’s become a really fun part of the day,” Debbink-Lesniak said.
The second parade starts at 6 p.m. and features a beach theme this year, with local businesses creating floats.
Throughout the day on Saturday, there will be events for children to enjoy, including rides, games, and a foam machine that blows bubbles in the air. There’s also the pie-eating contest at 1:30 p.m., which will include local politicians and other community members competing.
The music starts at 3:30 p.m. with Slam Funk, a local Motown/funk band. At 6:30 p.m., the winner of a battle of the bands from earlier in the year gets a slot to perform, and this year it will be Casey Lee and the Blue Line Blues Band. Fool House, a ’90s dance party band, takes the stage at 8 p.m. The festival concludes with a performance by the ’80s pop band Sixteen Candles.
“It’s a great lineup of fun bands that get people excited,” Debbink-Lesniak said.
New this year will be a silent dance party, which takes place in a tent at the festival. Participants are given headsets to listen to whatever music they want to dance to, but the overall effect is a quiet room filled with people dancing to their own beat.
“It’s something new, and it seems like a lot of fun,” Debbink-Lesniak said. “You have this whole group of people all dancing, but if you see them from the outside, it’s completely silent.”
He also finds that the festival is a good chance for people to get together one last time before the end of summer.
“It’s a great community event that brings people to downtown Grayslake,” Debbink-Lesniak said. “It’s just a fun place to hang out and listen to the music and bring your family. It’s that festival atmosphere that keeps people coming back every year.”
Grayslake Summer Days
When: 5 p.m. to midnight Aug. 19 and noon to midnight Aug. 20
Where: Whitney Street, downtown Grayslake
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Tickets: Free
Information: 847-223-6888
Jeff Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.