March 11, 2017
St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Fireworks
East Dundee is the site for the 10th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 11. Spectators can celebrate Irish tradition with leprechauns, bagpipe players, floats and marching units. The parade is only the beginning to a festive week that includes food, music and fun as East Dundee merchants, restaurateurs and friends welcome visitors for this special community celebration. The week concludes with fireworks on the Fox River at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 17. Sponsored by Bandito Barney’s in East Dundee, the annual parade and fireworks are coordinated by McNamee family members to honor their brother and late business owner, Thom McNamee. For more information, visit www.dundeestpats.com.
June 2-4, 2017
Gilberts Community Days Festival
This will be the fifth annual Community Days festival held in Gilberts’ Town Square Park on the weekend after Memorial Day. Crowds will enjoy rides and games provided by Windy City Amusements, as well as live bands, food and drink, a petting zoo, children’s activity tent and car show. Town Square Park is located at Route 72 and Center Drive in Gilberts. For more information, visit www.gilbertscommunitydays.com.
July 4, 2017
Sleepy Hollow Fourth of July Celebration
Sabatino Park in Sleepy Hollow is the place to be each year on the Fourth of July. The Sleepy Hollow Service Club of Illinois annually provides a full day of festivities including a one-mile fun run, fishing derby, pie eating contest, car show, entertainment by local bands, parade (11:30 a.m.), food and raffle. The day-long celebration ends with fireworks in the evening. For details, visit www.shsc-il.org.
July 15, 2017
Northern Kane Fest on the Fox
Hosted at 2 E. Main St. in Carpentersville. The Chamber of Commerce along with support from the Village of Carpentersville and Tom Roeser, owner of OTTO Engineering, host the annual Fest on the Fox. Nestled along the scenic Fox River, the day-long, free event includes family activities, live music and great food from local restaurants.
The fest was designed to highlight local artists, restaurants, musicians and businesses. This event is open to the entire Northern Kane County area.
Aug. 5 & 6, 2017
Civil War Reenactment Carpenter Park in Carpentersville
Civil War blacksmithing, battle reenactments, cannons, cavalry and cannon presentation with spectator participation. Activities for the whole family. Meet President Lincoln and much more. For more information, visit www.StandfordsBattery.org/events
Sept. 15-17, 2017
Heritage Fest
Heritage Fest, now in its 20th year, is a free three-day outdoor community festival held each September in downtown Dundee. Heritage Fest offers something for all ages, including live entertainment on three stages, fireworks, car show, craft and antique fairs, farmers market, carnival, games for kids and adults, fitness workshops and a broad menu of food and drink options. Heritage Fest is the biggest and most anticipated event of the year for the community. For more information, including a festival map and full schedule of events, visit www.wdundeeheritagefest.org.
Oct. 29, 2017
Halloween in the Hollow
There aren’t many events where you get to see the famed “Headless Horseman” from Washington Irving’s classic tale, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” But ever since the early 1970s, Sleepy Hollow has taken its name to heart once a year for a big Halloween event at Sabatino Park. The preparation for this event starts a month in advance when the village opens up the park so that residents can pile up their branches and other yard waste into a huge pile, which becomes a bonfire at the fest. The evening’s festivities, which start at 3 p.m. with a chili contest, include food sales, a costume parade and contest, pumpkin carving and hayrides. The day culminates with the lighting of the huge bonfire at 6 p.m. and the appearance of the “headless horseman” riding in on a majestic horse, to the delight of the large crowd.
The fest is sponsored by the Sleepy Hollow S
ervice Club of Illinois. For more information, visit www.shsc-il.org.
Nov. 17, 2017
Gilberts Tree Lighting Event
The fifth annual Tree Lighting event will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, in Town Square Park. The Tree Lighting event includes the traditional lighting of the holiday tree, a DJ and a visit from Santa. Children will have an opportunity to have a personal meeting with Santa and
all good little girls and boys will receive a surprise gift from Santa himself.
Dec. 1 & 2, 2017
Dickens in Dundee
In the tradition of Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol,” downtown Dundee comes to life during the first weekend in December in a Victorian Christmas celebration with small-town ambiance. Friday night festivities include tree-lighting ceremonies, cocoa and an opportunity to meet with Santa. Create memories as you view live portrayals of Christmas scenes in the merchant storefronts along Main and River streets, adorned with white, twinkling lights. The “Spirit of Christmas” parade steps off on Saturday at 10 a.m. and features community organizations and performance groups, and of course, Santa Claus himself.
Make a day of it, and enjoy a variety of activities for all ages, including the opportunity to decorate your own gingerbread house, craft sales, bake sales and other activities at area churches, a petting zoo, carriage rides and more. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.dickensindundee.org.