Coon Creek Country Days offers better rides, food drive push

Posted July 29, 2009 11:00 pm

By David Teeghman Daily Herald Staff

Children travel across the kiddie land Raiders walkway at Coon Creek Country Days as the sun sets. George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

Hampshire will triple in size this weekend as it plays host to the Coon Creek Country Days.

Residents of Hampshire and the other far-flung west suburbs will gather for the carnival, festival food, beer tent and fireworks.

The event is put together without the help of the village by Hampshire Coon Creek Country Days Committee, a group made up of a dozen volunteers from the area.

"(People) in Hampshire are so isolated from other towns that it's nice to have our own all-around festival," said Hampshire resident Sharon Almquist, treasurer of the committee.

Event organizers expect more than 10,000 to show up to this year's event, but aren't sure how many have showed up in previous years since a head count is nearly impossible to take.

Each year, one of the most popular events is the Friday night musical performance by 1980s cover band Hi-Infidelity, which also performs some more contemporary music from the 1990s and this decade as well.

"They (Hi-Infidelity) have been coming to the festival for three or four years, and they seem surprised by how big a festival such a small group can put together," Almquist said.

In addition to the dozen or so members of the festival's committee, the committee members are assisted by local businesses and groups that provide volunteers, about 50 in Almquist's approximation.

Of course, there is also the fireworks show Saturday night, which is always sure to drive people into the festival

"We always hear people raving about it, it's one of the better shows around, usually going for more than 30 minutes," Almquist said.

As with most festivals, the parade is also a big draw.

"People are lining up at 6 a.m., and every street of that parade is filled," Almquist said.

New carnival rides from Alpine Entertainment have been introduced this year. Whereas many of the rides the carnival used to feature were "little kiddie rides, now we hope there will be more big kid rides," Almquist said.

Also new to this year's festival is the "Food Pantry Blitz." Drop-off locations for non-perishable food will be placed around the festival, and four shopping carts will also be pushed in the parade, looking for the public's food donations.

"We have people in need going to bare shelves, and there are some people in our tight community who can help," said Almqust's husband, Scott, who is the president of the festival's committee.

Festival food from Genoa Pizza, El Sombreros, T's Food Shack and several others will be on the fairgrounds. And to wash down that food, there will be a beer tent serving Budweiser products, including beer and Bacardi drinks.

For more details, you can go to the festival's Web site at hampshirecooncreekdays.com.

Angelo Duvall of Greek Tastee foods work up some gyros for the crowds at a previous Coon Creek Country Days. George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

Leth Pearson of Carpentersville celebrates ringing the bell on the "high striker" and winning a prize at Hampshire's 25th Coon Creek Country Days. Adrian Stringer of Florida is operating the game and cheering him on. George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

Coon Creek Country Days When: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31; 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1; and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2. Where: Bruce Ream Park, 400 W. Jefferson St. in Hampshire. How much? Free admission Details: <a href="http://hampshirecooncreekdays.com" target="new">hampshirecooncreekdays.com</a>.

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.