Yorkville celebrates community at annual Hometown Days fest

By Ken Keenan For Chronicle Media
 The annual Yorkville Hometown Days 2015 will be held over Labor Day weekend at Beecher Community Park. (Photo United City of Yorkville)

The annual Yorkville Hometown Days 2015 will be held over Labor Day weekend at Beecher Community Park. (Photo United City of Yorkville)

Classic cars, cute babies and high-flying dogs are just a few of the many attractions on tap for the 23rd Annual Yorkville Hometown Days Festival, set to take place at Beecher Community Park Sept. 4-6.

The community’s shindig also features a carnival, a craft show, a family activities area and a bags tournament — as well as plenty of food, drinks and live music, with a total of seven acts scheduled to perform. In the neighborhood of 15,000 people are expected to attend this year’s version of the ever-blossoming event.

“Over the past 20 years, the United City of Yorkville has grown, and with this population increase so has the need and interest for festivals like Hometown Days,” said Shay Remus, superintendent of recreation for the Yorkville Parks and Recreation Department.

“In combination, when you have an established annual festival, it begins to gain momentum, and becomes a staple for families around the area. We also strive to expand the fest each year by bringing in new  attractions, while keeping the favorites, which always helps retain — and grow — crowds from year to year,” Remus said.

An expanded live music lineup leads off with Citizen Way, performing from 7-9 p.m. Sept. 4. Headlining on Sept. 5 is Mike & Joe (8 to 10 p.m.), preceded by Billy Croft and the 5 Alarm (5 to 7 p.m.) and Red Woody (1 to 4 p.m.). Hi Infidelity gets top billing on Sept. 5 (8 to 10 p.m.), following performances by 7th Heaven (5 to 7 p.m.) and the Yorkville Big Band (1 to 4 p.m.).

“The musical entertainment is usually what draws the majority of people to Hometown Days,” Remus said. “Due to this, we decided to book additional bands to perform this year, hoping to bring larger crowds earlier in the day. That will help showcase all the other great elements offered throughout the day.”

New to the fest in 2015 is the Ultimate Air Dogs Competition, in which dogs and their owners pursue a flying Frisbee while jumping off a dock into the water. Open jump time is available from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 4, with competition beginning Sept. 5 and concluding Sept. 6. All dogs —

and people — with an ability to swim are welcome. To register for the  competition, visit the website at www.ultimateairdogs.com.

“What makes this event really fun and exciting is that all dogs are welcome to compete, as long as they know how to swim,” Remus said. “It’s not just reserved for the well-trained dogs,  competition dogs seen on TV.”

Attractions include an on-site carnival (5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 4; 1 to 10 p.m. Sept. 5-6); the Rush-Copley Family Activities Area, featuring Touch-A-Truck, bounce houses and a complimentary bottle of water,  plus a petting zoo (2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 5); the Baby Contest (10 a.m. Sept. 5), a tradition dating to the fest’s creation (visit www.yorkville.il.us to download the contest flier); the Yorkville Junior Women’s Club Craft Show (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 5-6; pre-register online at yorkvilleparksandrecreation.com); the Pride and Joy Car Show, hosted by a live DJ and featuring more than 100 classic cars (visit www.yorkville.il.us to see a list of categories and to pre-register); and the Baggapalooza Bags Tournament, beginning at 10 a.m. Sept. 5 (registration at 9 a.m.). The cost is $50 per team and $25 per individual, which includes two free drink tickets.

Hungry attendees will discover a wide variety of options, including burgers and cheesesteaks, barbeque pulled pork and beef brisket, pizza, deep-fried Twinkies, fruit cups, Italian ice, and more.

Festival hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 4, and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 5-6. Admission is free ($2 after 5 p.m.).

“Hometown Days is truly a way for the community — local businesses, community groups, volunteers and residents — to come together and truly celebrate the city we are proud to call home,” Remus said.
For more information,  including volunteering, vendors and exhibitors applications, and new sponsorship opportunities, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (630) 553-4357 or via email to sremus@yorkville.il.us.

 

 

— Yorkville celebrates community at annual Hometown Days fest —