Palatine Jaycees Hometown Fest features music, carnival rides, food, but no parade
The five-day Palatine Jaycees Hometown Fest kicks off Thursday, July 1, with the Kathleen A. Blanck Special Needs Memorial Carnival from 1 to 3 p.m. at Community Park, 262 E. Palatine Road.
Festival hours are 3 to 10 p.m. Thursday, noon to midnight Friday to Sunday. The festival wraps up with a Family Day from noon to 4 p.m.
The festival officially opens at 3 p.m. Thursday with a Scavenger Hunt kickoff. The Scavenger Hunt continues from noon to midnight Friday to Sunday, and noon to 5 p.m. Monday.
Good Clean Fun is the festival opener Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by the Neverly Brothers from 8 to 10 p.m.
On Friday, July 2, the festival continues with the carnival and Scavenger Hunt all day. Live music will start with Johnny Blas from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., followed by Industrial Drive from 5 to 7 p.m., and The Instinct from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The evening's entertainment will close out with the Feudin' Hillbillys from 10 p.m. to midnight.
Hometown Toss Bags Tournament will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 3, at Community Park. Register day of or online at palatinejaycees.org/hometown-toss/. The tournament will be double-elimination and feature a prize package from event sponsor Tap House Grill, as well as splitting 50% of the pot of registration fees, with the other 50% going to support Palatine Jaycees community projects.
On Saturday and Sunday, the American Legion Post 690 hosts bingo from noon to 3 p.m.
Stop by the Arts, Craft & Business Expo from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday or noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
On Saturday, the Schaumburg School of Rock will be open the musical entertainment from noon to 1 p.m., followed by That's What She Said from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and Six on Friday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Alt 101 will perform from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by The Jolly Ringwalds from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The evening's entertainment will close out with Too Fighters from 10 p.m. to midnight.
On Sunday, Twenty Over will open the festival performing from noon to 2 p.m., followed by Gene Picchiotti from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Exit 147 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Bucket #6 will perform from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Weeze from 10 p.m. to midnight.
A free COVID-19 vaccination clinic will be offered from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday, July 4-5.
Support this year's Hometown Fest and future projects with a chance to share the pot of the 50/50 Raffle. It will be open until 5 p.m. July 4, when the winners will be announced. Participants are not required to be present to win. Raffle tickets are $5, five for $20, 10 for $35, or 20 for $50. For tickets, visit palatinejaycees.org/hometown-fest/activities/.
The five-day festival wraps up on Monday with Family Day from noon to 4 p.m. and the carnival and scavenger hunt from noon to 5 p.m.
The Palatine Jaycees' annual Fourth of July parade is a favorite part of Hometown Fest for many; however, due to COVID the parade has been canceled in 2021. They look forward to hosting the parade again in 2022.
Windy City Amusements has carnival rides and games for all ages to enjoy. Ride the roller coasters and try your luck to win a prize at one of the games on the midway. Younger children will love the slide, train, and carousel.
Weeklong Mega Passes are available for purchase online through June 30 at midnight for only $75. The Mega Pass allows you to ride as many rides as you want every day of the event from open until close. Visit palatinejaycees.org/hometown-fest/carnival/ to purchase.
Mega Passes will also be on sale at the event. Daily carnival wristbands will be available for purchase, as well as tickets for individual rides.
Unlimited ride specials for $25 per person, per day, will be available from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday and noon to 4 p.m. Friday to Monday.
The food booths will include pizza, Italian beef, hot dogs, corn dogs, barbecue, lemonade, egg rolls, orange chicken, ice cream, shaved ice, burritos, tacos, funnel cakes and more.
This year's food vendors include: Blackhawk BBQ, Lee's Concessions, Pancho's Mexican, Kona Ice, Georgie's Greek Delights, Christine's Dairy Delights, and Immanuel Lutheran Church.
For questions, email hometownfest@palatinejaycees.org, or visit palatinejaycees.org/hometown-fest/activities/ or www.facebook.com/palatinejaycees/.