The Aug. 7 event in Lake Zurich that calls for families to put the electronic devices away and converge on Paulus Park for an evening of food and entertainment was canceled due to rain, but was rescheduled to next month.
“Unplugged Festival,” now in its second year, got rained out earlier this month. But for area families still wanting to get out and unplug from devices, the fest is not set for Sept. 11.
The festival is essentially a day out by the lake at Paulus Park featuring food, entertainment and is billed as a day away from digital distraction. It was founded a year ago by Alexis Alt, a local 13-year-old who noticed how distracted people seemed by their devices.
Jodie Alt, Alexis’ mother, said her daughter noticed how much she missed actual interactions after a year of strict lockdown and online-only education at the start and height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time then, brick and mortar retail stores and restaurants were hurting financially, too, during the lockdown, so the festival was intended to help them as well.
“On top of the whole unplugged thing, she noticed that businesses were struggling because they couldn’t have customers coming [inside],” she said.
From its 2021 start, the festival has invited local businesses to participate. The first year brought together 28 businesses and an estimated 400 people while this year the festival plans to include 42 businesses, according to organizers.
“The local businesses are going to host fun activities, and you can try out the activities at the festival,” Jodie Alt said. “You can talk to them (the owners) and check them out and they’ll be able to check them out for free. It’s all free for everybody, and it’s a way for our community to connect.”
But mostly, the inspiration was intended to put up a fight — even if brief — against dependency on the digital world.
“The reason she did it is because she noticed more and more people are addicted to their phones and technology,” Alt said. “Then she went away to camp.”
The camp had a strict no-device policy, and Alt said her daughter had a great time unplugging, but it was jarring returning to the world.
“When she came back, she said she noticed people would be sitting at the same table but ignoring each other,” the mother said.
Alexis Alt said she was also inspired by another area festival.
“So, kind of what started this is, I would go to the Barrington Kid Fest when I was younger, and I thought Lake Zurich needed this,” Alexis Alt said.
Jodie Alt said she’d noticed the same thing among adults.
“People have forgotten how to communicate with each other without their devices,” she lamented.
Jodie Alt said she’s proud of her daughter for launching the festival.
“For a 13-year-old kid to notice things that are going around … a lot of kids are self-absorbed. It makes me very proud for sure,” she said.
The teen said she hopes the festival is something of an inspiration for other people her age.
More Top Picks Roccat Kain 120 Aimo
“I would like to say that anyone can do anything they set their mind to, it doesn’t matter how old [they are],” she said. “I am an example of that, as I started it when I was 12 and I’m 13 now.”
Ideally, both mother and daughter hope the festival will continue. But in the meantime, Alexis said she just hopes this year’s event goes well and has a sizeable turnout.
“The biggest thing is to just come to this event and enjoy this day of unplugging and to see 42 different organizations Lake Zurich has to offer,” Alexis said. “I just hope everyone can come and see what Lake Zurich has to offer.”
Jesse Wright is a freelancer.