In its fourth decade as an end-of-summer tradition in Naperville, Last Fling continues to evolve but not disappoint as thousands enjoyed food, drinks, rides, games, music and the feeling of contributing to something positive on Friday’s opening night.
“We wanted to come hear some music. We like local groups. We’re big local band supporters,” Chris Dunham, of Channahon, said, as the Naperville-based pop/rock band Within Four Days played onstage at Jackson Avenue and Main Street.
Dunham and her friend, Carol Biagi, of Berwyn, said they didn’t mind that Last Fling organizers decided to eschew national acts and multiple stages in favor of a scaled-down free festival featuring local bands and a carnival that continues through Monday.
“We got to the point when it came down to beer sales, we weren’t making enough profit with what we were paying for acts,” Last Fling entertainment chair Danielle Tufano said. “In the end, we’ll end up netting more.”
That money all goes to the nonprofit Naperville Jaycees, which runs the festival with the help of several hundred volunteers, including 14-year-old Allie Budney and 11-year-old Abby Guebert.
“It’s more fun than work,” Guebert said.
Budney agreed, adding that she decided to volunteer “to help out the community. My dad was a Jaycee.”
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While the Jaycees earn money from beer sales, sponsorships and vendor fees, some individual booths were also contributing all their net proceeds to the group’s mission of community service.
“We hope to raise $30,000 for Jaycees at Last Fling,” Aspen Lane Wine Co. co-owner Bob Evanosky said. He started the winery with his wife, Sonya, at their home on Aspen Lane in Aurora to raise money for families with a disabled child.
“We had three severely disabled children. They are the purpose in why we do this,” Bob said.
The couple’s children were born with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), which causes muscle weakness, progressive loss of vision and eventual paralysis.
“It presents around the age of 3,” said Sonya, who did not know her twins had the rare genetic disorder when they were 2 years old and her third child was born.
Their son John died of the disease at the age of 15. Their 20-year-old son Christopher needs 24-hour care, and their 18-year-old son Jack also has MLD.
Aspen Lane Wine donates all net proceeds from the sale of wine “slushys” and wine by the glass at different festivals like Last Fling “to help others not go through the suffering and issues we’re going through,” Bob said.
The winery donates to organizations like the Marklund residential facility for the disabled and DuPagePads.
Biagi tried one of the wine slushys, and the drink was that much sweeter when she learned her money was supporting families facing struggles. “It’s very refreshing. And we got it for a good cause,” she said.
The energized crowd that poured into the festival grounds filled the area in front of the stage and lined up for games and rides.
“They’re gonna take me on that thing,” said 8-year-old Fiona Wozniak about the popular Freak Out ride. Her mom, Ashlee, didn’t seem so sure, but she did promise Fiona and her 4-year-old sister Emmy they would get the $30 wristbands that would allow them to enjoy unlimited rides.
“We’ve lived here a little over a year. This is really nice,” Ashlee said.
Her husband, Chris, said they planned to explore the separate area with rides more suitable for younger ones and “to get away from the teenagers.”
“People love it. It’s a community block party,” Tufano said. “We got feedback from the community, and we dropped the entry fee. We wanted to make this an event everyone could enjoy. Everyone feels safe. There’s something for everyone.
“On Monday we do a veteran lunch,” Tufano said. It’s her favorite part of Last Fling because she gets to see the veterans enjoy free food and ice cream and “hear their stories. We call it Support Our Troops Day.”
Diane Moca is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.