Soap flakes mimicked snowflakes at the Christmas of July event Sunday at Blarney Island in Antioch.
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The annual Grass Lake tradition, launched several years ago, had youngsters angling to catch the falling white stuff. The frothy suds festively collected like snow on clothing and in people’s hair.
The event and breezy boat ride to the island were free for children. Adults taking the shuttle boat from the Port of Blarney paid for the lift.
“Blarney Island has been around since 1901, which most people don’t realize the amount of history out here,” Blarney Island owner Rob Hardman said. “And it’s been a lot of things to a lot of people over the years.
“When I acquired the business, I altered it to make it more kid-friendly, so that during the day, it was more family-oriented,” he said. “Obviously at night, it’s all about the party scene. But it’s a lot of different things to different people, and we’ve got a lot of generations of families that have been coming out with their great grandparents all the way down to their great grandchildren, and that’s a really special thing.”
Hardman said $5,000 in holiday gifts were distributed Sunday by Santa Claus with the assistance of the friendly green Grinch.
“We want to showcase this to be all about the children,” he said. “This is just our way of giving back to the community.”
Adults took photos of their children visiting with Santa, with some parents saying their Christmas in July family portraits might be good candidates for this year’s Christmas card photos.
“I think (Christmas in July) is a fun thing to do with the family,” said Laura Rose of Rosemont, who attended with husband Shawn and their children Callie, 8, and Claire, 6. “It’s a family event, and it’s something different.”
Kelly Green of Deer Park, accompanied daughter Ivy, 6. “We’re obsessed with Christmas,” she said. “We’re, like, huge Christmas people, so any opportunity to celebrate Christmas for us is the best.”
Christmas in July featured face-painting and, for the first time, live music by local youth bands, including Bach to Rock and Barrington’s School of Rock.
“It was a great addition, having these bands,” Hardman said.
School of Rock lead singer Noah Randolph, 16, of Tower Lakes, said, “It’s pretty nice. I’m part of the house band. We go around ‘gigging’ essentially. You get to do some fun songs.”
Some families arrived at the island’s docks in their own boats. Parents Josh Gibson and Mattea Mercado of Ingleside brought their children to the Port of Blarney for the shuttle excursion to Blarney Island as a family outing.
“I totally appreciate them being able to host this, and give us something to do for the kids on a weekend,” Mercado said.