Elburn Days features two firsts
Look to the community stage to see a lot of local talent at the 78th annual Elburn Days this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Lions Park, 500 S. Filmore St.
This year's festival features a couple of firsts: an "Elburn Idol" competition, and a temporary skate park. Skateboarders can try out their best maneuvers from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday in the east lot of the village hall, 301 E. North St. Skaters should bring their own equipment, including helmets (which are mandatory). A limited number of helmets will be available to rent for $5.
The skate park will be run by American Ramp Co. of Joplin, Mo., as part of a demonstration tour. Elburn village officials are looking into the feasibility of having a permanent skate park in Elburn.
There will also be a talent contest at 1:15 p.m. Sunday on the community stage.
"We wanted to get the community involved," said Michelle Miller, owner of M & M Dance Studio of Elburn, which is in charge of the community stage events.
"There are singers and dancers and we even have a bagpiper," Miller said.
Festival goers will also have the opportunity to hear nine finalists from the "Elburn Idol" contest perform at 2:30 p.m. Saturday on the community stage. The finalists have already been chosen by a panel of judges who viewed DVDs or videotapes of performances sent in by local residents.
The youth division winner will perform at 4 p.m. Saturday on the main stage, the winner in the teen division will perform at 6:30 Sunday on the main stage, and the adult winner will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday on the main stage, according to Miller.
The theme of this year's Elburn Days is "Together We Can Do So Much." It all begins at 6 p.m. Friday with the parade on Main Street. There will be prizes for the floats that best depict the theme, which was chosen by Joe Kryszak, Elburn Days chairman and immediate past president of the Elburn Lions Club.
"It's really Americana," Kryszak said. "It's a wonderful place to have a good time."
Food booths, the Lions Beer Garden and the carnival open at 6 p.m. Friday.
Festivities begin at 7 a.m. Saturday with the 5K run from the fire station and the Boy Scout pancake breakfast at Lions Park.
There will be an antique tractor show at 11 a.m. Saturday and the annual tractor pull begins at noon.
Community worship sponsored by the Elburn Community Congregational Church begins at 9:30 a.m. Sunday in Lions Park.
The festival also features the Town and Country Public Library book sale, a sidewalk sale in downtown Elburn, a 4-H livestock show and auction and live entertainment.
Visit www.elburnlions.com for details.