Bloomingdale Family Fest in full bloom

Posted June 24, 2009 11:00 pm

By Jessica Sabbah Daily Herald Staff

Family Fest will feature plenty of live music, roving entertainers and, of course, a carnival ride during its four-day stay in Bloomingdale. Paul Michna/June 2008

Sometimes the little things are what count the most.

For co-chairman Tim Jarzemsky, just being able to see his family and community having fun at this weekend's Bloomingdale Family Fest will make the past six months of planning worthwhile.

Along with about 30 other volunteers, Jarzemsky dedicates his time annually to the four-day community event that opens tonight at Lake Street and Springfield Drive. The festivities will include live musical entertainment, food, carnival rides and business vendors.

"It's really a labor of love," he said. "The committee has been doing this for so long."

Besides his work on the festival, Jarzemsky is also the director of the Bloomingdale Public Library, a board member with the Bloomingdale Chamber of Commerce and secretary of the Bloomingdale-Roselle Rotary Club.

"(The fest) helps me to get to know the community, and it's a lot of fun," he said.

As a father of three, he also enjoys taking his family to the party to experience what he says are the three things not to miss: the entertainment, the carnival and the food.

"I take pride in the fact my kids and everybody else will have a good and safe time because (the committee and I) helped organize it," he said.

With a jam packed scheduled of events, entertainment ranges from blues to rock, including the band Survivor. During the fair, some bands also will pay tribute to the likes of Dave Matthews Band, Pink Floyd and Bon Jovi.

"It's a way to get music out there that they might be familiar with," Jarzemsky said.

As a way of reducing costs, there will be a variety of roving entertainment in lieu of having a smaller stage for children's entertainment. All the other acts will be presented on the main stage.

The new roving entertainment will be present from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and will include two stilt walkers/balloonists; characters such as Jack Sparrow from the "Pirates of the Caribbean," Spider-Man and Ariel from "The Little Mermaid."

"We try to offer as much quality entertainment as we can with no cost," said Kandice Krettler, who has been co-chairing the festival with Jarzemsky for the past six years.

There is no admission fee, but there is a cost for rides and purchases from any vendors.

The festival will conclude with a "patriotic tribute to the military" with the U.S. Army Band playing before a 30-minute fireworks display Sunday.

Although there is no on-site parking for the event, there are designated parking areas throughout the community and shuttle buses will be provided.

Bloomingdale Family Fest

Festival runs from 5 to 10 p.m. today, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Lake Street and Springfield Drive. Admission is free but additional fees will be required for food and rides. Info: www.bloomingdalefamilyfest.com.

TODAY

6 to 9:30 p.m. Carnival rides and fun booths

5 to 10 p.m. Beer Garden, food booths and business tents

6:30 to 8 p.m. Plan 9

8:30 to 10 p.m. Midnight

FRIDAY

5 to 10:30 p.m. Carnival rides and fun booths

5 to 11 p.m. Beer Garden, food booths and business tents

6 to 7:15 p.m. Crash Trio (Tribute to Dave Matthews Band)

7:45 to 8:45 p.m. Ron Prince Chicago Blues Review

9:15 to 11 p.m. Echoes of Pompeii (Tribute to Pink Floyd)

SATURDAY

1 to 10:30 p.m. Carnival rides and fun booths

1 to 11 p.m. Beer Garden, food booths and business tents

1:15 to 2 p.m. Dance Explosion

2:15 to 3 p.m. Dave Fleming Magic

2 to 4 p.m. Stilt walkers/balloonists, roving characters and a variety performer

2 to 4 p.m. Tumbling activities

3:30 to 5 p.m. Greg Hyde Acoustic Rock

5:30 to 7 p.m. T-Bos Rock!

8 to 9:30 p.m. Survivor

10 to 11 p.m. Bad Medicine (Tribute to Bon Jovi)

SUNDAY

1 to 10:30 p.m. Carnival rides and fun booths

1 to 11 p.m. Beer Garden, food booths and business tents

1 to 1:45 p.m. Karate demo

2 to 2:45 p.m. Dave Fleming Magic

2 to 4 p.m. Stilt walkers/balloonists, roving characters and a variety performer

2 to 4 p.m. Tumbling activities

2 to 4 p.m. 101.9-FM The Mix Road Crew

3 to 4:15 p.m. Johnny Maggio

4:30 to 6 p.m. Frank & Dave

6:15 to 7:30 p.m. U.S. Army Field Band

8 to 9:15 p.m. Tony Spavone, From Naples With Love

9:15 to 9:30 p.m. Bloomingdale Family Fest Tribute to the Military

9:30 to 10 p.m. Fireworks

10 to 11 p.m. Voyage

Family Fest slides into Bloomingdale tonight and remains in town through Sunday. Paul Michna/June 2008

There's no fee to enter the Family Fest grounds, but there will be fees for the carnival rides. Tanit Jarusan/June 2008

There will be plenty of food available tonight when Bloomingdale's Family Fest opens near Lake Street and Springfield Drive. The celebration continues through Sunday. Tanit Jarusan/June 2008

What: Bloomingdale Family Fest When: 5 to 10 p.m. today, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Where: Lake Street and Springfield Drive in Bloomingdale Cost: Free Info: <a href="http://www.bloomingdalefamilyfest.com" target="new">www.bloomingdalefamilyfest.com</a>

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