11 minute read
Cover story
from MidWeek_060122
by Shaw Media
COVER STORY HELLO, SUMMER:
Here’s your guide to summer festivals in DeKalb County
By KATRINA J.E. MILTON
kmilton@shawmedia.com
School’s out for the summer, and festivals are just getting started.
Katherine McLaughlin, marketing director with the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said she is looking forward to this summer’s lineup of festivals.
“At the CVB, we’re excited about the fest, especially the new fests that are being added,” McLaughlin said. “It’s exciting to see each fest grow through the years. We get phone calls about fests that started small, and now everyone outside the county is looking forward to them.”
McLaughlin said the events offer unique experiences for residents of DeKalb County and the surrounding areas.
Krissy Johnson, executive director of the Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce, said she is looking forward to holding events again in person after two years of virtual and limited programs.
“What I’m looking forward to the most is having people gathering again and seeing people’s faces as they’re exploring Genoa,” Johnson said. “There has been a lot of adaptation the last few years. Some events were held, but we’re looking forward to things being in full swing this year.”
Here’s a list of local festivals to attend from now through Labor Day in September:
Genoa Days
Dates: June 8-11 Place: Downtown Genoa
The 86th Genoa Days is a fundraising carnival hosted by the Genoa-Kingston Fire Department and is put on by Skinner Amusements. The four-day festival will include amusement rides, nightly entertainment, food games and live music. Ride wristbands cost $25 each. The parade will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 11.
Malta Days
Dates: June 10-12 Place: Lions Park in Malta
The three-day festival will feature rides by Zeiler Amusements, games, food, a beer garden, sound stage and more. On Saturday, June 11, a pancake breakfast will be held at 6:30 a.m., a 5K tractor trot and fun run will begin at 8 a.m., the car show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the arts, crafts and business show will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 12.
Pride Fest
Date: June 23 Place: Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. in DeKalb
The Egyptian Theatre, Safe Passage, Sycamore Public Library, Queer-Oriented Rural Resource Network, Grace Place, Hometown Sports Bar & Grill, Youth Outlook, 94.9 WDKB and S.O.A.S. are hosting a free event for the community during Pride Month. The event will feature a short Pride march, a viewing of the film “Tangerine” and a post-movie discussion. The film is intended for mature audiences.
Greek Fest
Dates: June 25-26 Place: Hopkins Park in DeKalb
The event will feature authentic Greek food, homemade Greek pastries, food available for carryout, Greek and American music, arts and craft vendors and Little O’s Frozen Treats trailer.
Fourth of July Festivals
Dates: July 1-4 Place: DeKalb, Kirkland and Sandwich
In addition to fireworks, there also will be festivals held in conjunction with Independence Day.
DeKalb’s Fourth of July fireworks and celebration will be held July 4 at Hopkins Park. The celebration will include an Independence Day 5K and 10K, food vendors, relay races, games, activities and strolling entertainment, an animal and reptile show, live music, a DeKalb Municipal Band concert and fireworks.
Kirkland Lions Club’s Fourth of July Festival will be held July 1-4. The festival will include a carnival, a 50/50 raffle, concerts and live music, bingo, a bags tournament and more. A car show will be held Sunday, July 3, and a parade and fireworks on Monday, July 4.
Sandwich Park District’s Freedom Days will feature a parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 2, and fireworks at the Sandwich Fairgrounds. The Freedom Run, including a 1-mile fun run and walk and a 5K race, will begin at 8 a.m. Sunday, July 3, at James Knights Park, 1001 Latham St.
Sip ’n’ Savor
Date: July 9 Place: Sycamore Community Park
This inaugural event will offer craft spirits, unique food and artisan vendors of all types. Place: Warehouse on Park in Genoa
There will be a variety of bands playing live music, multiple food truck vendors and Byers Brewing will sell a special bacon beer. This event is for ages 16 and older.
Waterman Summerfest and Antique Tractor Show
Date: July 16 Place: Lions Park in Waterman
The event will feature kids’ activities and entertainment, a craft show and flea market, food, a carnival, a tractor and truck parade of power, a pedal pull, beer garden, kids and adults bags tournaments, live music, a pork chop barbecue, a drawn down raffle and fireworks.
Throwback at the Park
Date: July 16 Place: Hopkins Park in DeKalb Cost: Early bird prices before July 1 include disc golf, $16 residents, $20 nonresidents; craft beer fest only, $35 residents, $44 nonresidents; combo pass, $48 residents, $60 nonresidents; and non-drinker wristband, $10 residents, $13 nonresidents
The inaugural craft beer and disc golf festival is hosted in collaboration by the DeKalb Park District, Byers Brewing and the Phenix Disc Golf Club. Th festival will include a new temporary disc golf course, a family disc golf section, a craft beer festival featuring beers from at least six different breweries, food trucks, local bands and more. The afternoon will conclude with headliner music and cash bar sales.
Fizz Ehrler Memorial Turning Back Time Car Show
Date: July 31 Place: Downtown Sycamore
The car and motorcycle show will also include a 50/50 raffle. The event raises funds for local nonprofit entities and organizations.
Cortland Summerfest
Dates: Aug. 5-6 Place: Cortland Park Cost: $5 for adults 21 and older
The event, presented by the Cortland Fire Department, will feature fireworks, live music, a bags tournament, free family activities, and a car, motorcycle and apparatus show.
Sycamore Steam Show and Threshing Bee
Dates: Aug. 11-14 Place: Taylor Marshall Farm, 27707 Lukens
Road Cost: $7 adults, children younger than 12 enter free
Daily activities include a sawmill and shingle mill in operation, Flink fan in operation testing horsepower, silo filling, corn shelling, wheat grinding, field plowing, a display of steam and gas engines, gas tractors, antique cars and other antique power equipment, the Prairie State Scale Railroad, a large flea market, live music and food vendors.
Cruisin’ to Genoa
Date: Aug. 20 Place: Downtown Genoa
The car, motorcycle and truck show will award more than 30 trophies and will feature a 50/50 raffle.
Corn Fest
Dates: Aug. 26-28 Place: Downtown DeKalb Cost: Free to attend, sound stage admission costs $8 for a daily pass or $20 for a weekend pass before Aug. 1 or $10 for a daily pass or $25 for a weekend pass after
Aug. 1
Corn Fest will feature three days of live music, about 100 vendors, carnival games and rides and free corn. The Chuck Siebrasse Corn Boil, featuring free ears of corn steamed by a steam traction engine, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. This year’s sound stage headliners will be Voices of Classic Rock, featuring Billy Champlin, formerly of Chicago, John Payne, formerly of Asia, and Fran Cosmo, formerly of Boston. Voices of Classic Rock will perform from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27.
Sycamore Ribs Rhythm and Blues
Date: Aug. 27 Place: Downtown Sycamore
Guests can raise their glasses and sip craft beer from across the nation. Ribs and side dishes will be served up by multiple vendors and compete for the title of RR&B Fest Champion. This year’s music headliner is Back Country Roads.
Sandwich Fair
Dates: Sept. 7-11 Place: Sandwich Fairgrounds Cost: Adult $10; ages 6 to 12, $7; ages 5 and younger, free
This year’s fair will feature food, a carnival and animals and homemade items on exhibit. On Wednesday, Sept. 7, there will be harness racing and an equipment vendor showcase; on Thursday, Sept. 8, truck pulls; on Friday, Sept. 9, a concert with country music artist Trace Adkins; on Saturday, Sept. 10, tractor pulls; and on Sunday, Sept. 11, an antique car show and demolition derby.
Shaw Local News Network
DeKALB – Stage Coach Players will bring the Tony-winning musical, “Something Rotten!,” all the way from 1595 London to DeKalb.
The musical comedy follows Nick and Nigel Bottom, as they struggle to find success during the Elizabethan Renaissance when their contemporary, William Shakespeare, ruled the stage. The production opens June 9 and runs for two weekends at Stage Coach Theater in DeKalb.
“Something Rotten!” was created by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Wayne Kirkpatrick, and screenwriters Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell. The Stage Coach production will be directed by Jan Kuntz, with musical direction from John Feken, the same team that directed “Elf” last December.
“Something Rotten!” features entertaining songs and dance numbers while bringing overthe-top characters to life. Songs in the production include “Welcome to the Renaissance,” “God, I Hate Shakespeare,” ”Hard to Be the Bard,” and “To Thine Own Self.” The original cast recording can be found on Spotify or individual songs are on YouTube.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. June 9-11 and June 16-18 and 2 p.m. June 12 and June 19. Tickets cost $20 for adults or $18 for older adults and children age 13 and younger.
To purchase tickets, visit www.stagecoachplayers.com or call the box office at 815-758-1940.
Photo provided by Stage Coach Players Cast members rehearse a scene from Stage Coach Players’ production of “Something Rotten!” The show opens June 9.
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KC hosts first in-person commencement since ’19
Shaw Local News Network
MALTA – For the first time in more than two years, Kishwaukee College held its commencement ceremonies in person. Approximately 275 students attended two ceremonies on May 21, to celebrate spring 2022 Commencement.
The first ceremony recognized 155 graduates who earned Associate in Applied Science degrees, Certificates of Completion, and Illinois High School Equivalency credentials. The second ceremony honored 120 graduates earning Associate in Arts, Associate in Fine Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Engineering Science and Associate in General Studies degrees. Overall, 402 students completed a program or certificate requirement this semester. Additionally, graduates from the summer and fall 2021 semesters were invited to attend the in-person ceremonies.
Dennysha Kizer, a graduate of Kish’s Nursing program, served as the student speaker during the first ceremony, emphasizing how the college served as a support system through the pandemic.
“Even during COVID, when social isolation weighed over us, I always had someone within reach, whether it was a phone call, FaceTime, email, or just socially distancing in our cars. The community that this college has provided me with helped me achieve my goals,” Kizer said, according to a news release. “Kish has provided us with the skills, and now it is our time to put them to use. Go start the career you have always wanted. Earn that bachelor’s or master’s degree. Continue chasing your dreams.”
Sierra Price, a graduate earning her Associate in Arts degree and the student speaker for the second ceremony, also acknowledged the challenges of the pandemic and drew on Benjamin Franklin’s advice, “Out of adversity comes opportunity.”
“Let your achievements these past two years remind you to prepare for inevitable changes and embrace the opportunities that accompany them – even when they may not always align with your desired vision,” Price said, according to the release. “When feelings of uncertainty arise, take them in stride and accept the option that scares you most. Then, perhaps, you will find yourself in positions you never imagined possible.”
Both ceremonies were livestreamed on Kish’s social media channels and website. To view either ceremony, visit www. kish.edu/commencement.
Photo provided by Brett Herrmann On May 21, Kishwaukee College held its commencement ceremonies in person for the first time since Fall 2019. Pictured (from left) are Bob Johnson, board chair; Kathleen Spears, board secretary; Laurie Borowicz, president of Kishwaukee College; Kathy Countryman, trustee; and Robert Hammon, board vice-chair.
Top Gun
Family Camp How To Train Your Dragon Fri 6/3 Sat 6/4 Sun 6/5 Mon 6/6 Tue 6/7 Wed 6/8 Thursday 6/9
12:40, 3:20, 6:00, 8:40 12:40, 3:20, 6:00 12:40, 3:20, 6:00 3:30 6:15
12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20 1:15, 3:45, 6:15 1:15, 3:45, 6:15 3:40 6:00
12:10, 2:20, 4:30, 6:40, 8:50 12:10, 2:20, 4:30, 6:40 10:00, 12:10, 2:20, 4:30, 6:40 3:45 6:00
Times and Movies subject to change Sycamorestatetheater.com 815-991-5112
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