Heritage Fest won't start with a bang

Antique dealers rest easy, that noisy old cannon and the Civil War-era actors who bring it will not be your neighbors at this weekend's Heritage Fest in West Dundee.

The Northern Illinois residents who make up Chicago Light Artillery Battery A will not be setting up camp in Grafelman Park when the festival starts Friday.

Call them a casualty of a tight budget or nervous antique dealers, but they have not been asked back, said Robert Conklin, who portrays a captain in the troop.

"It's a shame, we've been a part of Heritage Fest for three years," he said. "People seem to like us. I even told (festival organizers) we don't even have to shoot the cannon."

But that did not persuade planners. The Route 72 park will still hold people who portray Illinois pioneers, such as a blacksmith and a coffin maker. And actors playing Ben Franklin and his wife, Anne Child, will set up camp for the three-day festival. But the 1847 cannon will stay home.

"We don't even shoot a full charge," Conklin said. "We shoot a half of charge. That's loud enough."

When West Dundee trustees took over the festival from the disbanded local chapter of the MainStreet organization, they wanted to give local residents a real flavor of history. They signed up the Civil War reenactors and were excited they would arrive in Union uniforms, and with canvas tents, rifles and the big gun.

They were excited knowing it had been used in the Mexican-American and Civil wars. After it was fired, festivalgoers had a chance to hear, see and smell history. But the noise it created raised eyebrows, tempers and the blood pressure of the antique vendors and people living around the park.

Last year, it wasn't fired, but people were still drawn to it and the camp the troops created.

This authentic setting was too expensive, though, said Barb Haines, one of the leading festival organizers.

"Money is tight this year. The reenactors want $6,000. We have a $50,000 budget to work with," she said. "The money goes quickly."

To help cover some costs, planners had to rely more on sponsors to put Heritage Fest on this year, she said. For $1,000, $500, and $100 the sponsors' names are placed on T-shirts, banners and programs that will be seen throughout the park and along First Street where more attractions will be.

The lack of the cannon will not make the festival quiet. A Friday night fireworks display on the Fox River footbridge, connecting East and West Dundee, will provide plenty of noise. It will start at 8 p.m.

Also, there will be music and entertainers on a stage behind West Main Street shops. The music begins at 6 p. m. on Friday.

More noise will be heard from the crowds attending a 10 a.m. classic car show on Saturday and Sunday. It will be staged along South Second Street. Craft vendors will open their booths on those days along Lincoln Avenue

Barking dogs no doubt will be heard on Saturday at noon when activities for pets will be held.

On Sunday, the annual community breakfast will be served in the parking lot behind Main Street shops. Village trustees and members of the Dundee Lions Club will cook and serve the food until 11 a.m.

At noon, area firefighters will take part in a chili cook-off in Grafelman Park.

The festival runs until 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

For information, call the West Dundee village hall at (847) 551-3800.

In East Dundee

East Dundee will not be part of Heritage Fest, but village trustees are marking the weekend with their own activities on Sunday.

A 5K, 1-mile and childrens race will begin at 8:30 a.m. along North River Street. Proceeds from the $20 and $25 registration for the adult races will be given to the Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township.

At 10 a.m., village trustees will sponsor an art fair and wine tasting along North River Street. It will run until 5 p.m.

For details, call the East Dundee village hall, (847) 426-2822.