Organizers are gearing up for the start of the 38th Montgomery Fest, which begins Friday.
The event, to be held along the Fox River in Montgomery Park, 301 N. River St., with run for three days and include entertainment, a carnival, food, a beer tent, a fishing derby, a parade, fireworks and more.
The event opens with music on the main stage Friday at 4 p.m. by Who We Are, an acoustic rock and folk band; followed by Soul Sacrifice performing the best of Santana at 5:30 p.m; followed by Sonora Dinamita, a Cumbia tribute band at 8 p.m.
There will be some 12 food booths open throughout the three-day festival with a variety of items, organizers said.
The carnival is open all three days of the event with unlimited ride wristband specials available throughout the weekend.
Saturday activities include children’s entertainment on stage beginning at 9:45 a.m. with the Miss Jamie’s Farm sing-a-long show geared towards those aged 8 years old and younger, organizers said. At 11 a.m. there will be a performance by Good Clean Fun, described as “a party band,” followed by the Mr. Freeze Science Show at 12:30 p.m.
Other activities will include “Chalk with a Cop” at 10 a.m. and a petting zoo opening at 10:30 a.m.
A car show will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Austin Park Saturday, officials said.
In the afternoon, South of Disorder, a Jimmy Buffett cover band, will perform on the main stage at 1 p.m., followed by Kovacs & Co. playing 1980s hits at 3 p.m., Voyage Rocks playing 1980s arena rock at 5:30 p.m. and Semple performing party songs beginning at 8 p.m.
Sunday begins early with a carp fishing derby starting at 6 a.m. and running to 2 p.m.
A church service will be held in the park at 9:30 a.m., hosted by New Life Montgomery.
The Montgomery Fest parade kicks off at 1 p.m. Sunday at Main and Madison streets and will include a number of parade entries and former village trustee Denny Lee as the grand marshal.
Over at the main stage Flipside will perform music from the 1950s to the 1980s at 11 a.m. At 2 p.m., Vital Signs will play classic rock, with Planet Groove playing music from the 1960s through today beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Music on the main stage ends with Hi-Infidelity performing from 7 to 9 p.m.
Fireworks will end the festival at 9 p.m. Village officials say the best viewing spots are Montgomery Park, Mill Street Bridge or along River Street.
There will be free shuttle service to the fest on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from two locations – Lakewood Creek Elementary School at 2301 Lakewood Creek Drive and the Blain’s Farm & Fleet parking lot at 400 Route 30.
The shuttle buses will run every half hour from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Limited parking for the fest is available on the street and in the Lyon Metal parking lot at 421 N. Main St. just west of the grounds, officials said.
More Top Picks Best Adjustable Bed Tables For Reading
For more information on the festival, go to montgomeryil.org.
Judy Pochel is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.