Enjoy music, rides and more at Mundelein Community Days June 28 to July 1

The annual Mundelein Community Days festival returns Thursday, June 28, through Sunday, July 1. Events take place in downtown Mundelein, most at Kracklauer Park, 116 N. Lake St., Mundelein.

The event features carnival rides, food, music, contests, demonstrations, and activities for all ages.

Carnival hours are 5-11 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The festival includes the Mundelein Munch, with local vendors offering a variety of food. The Munch will take place from 4-11 Thursday and noon to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Vendors scheduled to take part include BBQ'd Productions, Bill's Pizza & Pub, Brothers BBQ, Dairy Queen, El Barrio Restaurant, El Campeón Piña Colada, Family Fishery, Lee Concessions, Luke's of Mundelein, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Taco & Burrito Express, Tamales Diana and Wa-Pa-Ghetti's Pizza.

Thursday's events include fire engine rides, the Mundelein Pageant Queens introductions, and musical performances by 3 If By Air and Kashmir.

On Friday, featured activities will include a balloon twister, a hot dog eating contest, chalk art, the Park District Dancers and fire engine rides. Musical performances include Music under the Tent featuring Evan and Tom Lahey Band and the John Metzger Duo; and Mainstage performances by Gina Gonzalez and the Wingmen and Mason Rivers.

Saturday begins with the Mundelein Park District's Freedom Classic 5K Run/Walk, professionally-timed 5K race for ages 8 and older. The race starts in Keith Mione Community Park, 1461 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein, and runs through Hampton Reserve and Loch Lomond. Registration is $35 in advance online or $40 at the race. Register at www.signmeup.com. On-site registration is from 6-7:55 a.m. with the race at 8 a.m. There is also a free half-mile Youth Run for ages 4-10 at 8:45 a.m.

Saturday also includes a pet parade and adoption event, a car show, kids crafts, face painting, bingo, horseshoe and bags tournaments, pony rides and a petting zoo, a magic show, fire engine rides, and a jalapeño-eating contest. Musical performances include 7th Heaven.

Sunday starts with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Mundelein Fire Department from 7-11:30 a.m., and includes cultural displays and performances at the One World Event, bingo, kids crafts, the McNulty Irish Dancers, a juggler/stilt-walker, and the parade and fireworks.

The theme for this year's parade will be “Around the World.” The parade will step off at 2 p.m. Sunday from the Metra station parking lot and head west on Division Street to California Avenue, then go north to Hawley and west to Mundelein High School.

The fireworks show kicks-off at 9:30 p.m. Sunday. The best viewing areas for the fireworks are the Metra Station, Village Hall Plaza, the festival grounds and Fairhaven School.

For more information, visit www.mundelein.org.