Frontier Days: Classic summer festival returns to Arlington Heights with music, carnival, parade
One of the biggest summer festivals in the Northwest suburbs is Frontier Days, which returns to Arlington Heights this week.
The festival takes place Wednesday, July 3, through Sunday, July 7, in Recreation Park, 500 E. Miner St.
Visitors can bask in the sun, listen to free musical entertainment, enjoy carnival rides and games and make memories.
Each day draws families to participate in activities such as the petting zoo, pony rides and face painting. Contests include cake decorating, pie eating and rib eating. There is also bingo on July 4.
Sports activities challenge youth in volleyball and hockey skills. Other competitions test participants in pickleball, dog Frisbee, Baggo and water fights.
Love a parade?
Frontier Days sponsors the Fourth of July Parade, one of the biggest in the Northwest suburbs. Bring your kids with their bikes to ride in the Decorated Bike Parade. Follow up with lunch at one of the local restaurant kiosks on the festival grounds.
Jesse White Tumblers lead off the Fourth celebration filled with activities.
Over the weekend, visitors can browse and buy unique handmade products at the Marketplace on Saturday and Sunday, July 6-7.
Wine tasting is at 5 p.m. Sunday with specially selected wines to sample, but you can sit and sip every evening of the fest at the Beer/Wine Garden.
Sunday, July 7, is the Festival Stampede for all ages and offers a 10K run, 5K run, 5K Walk and a ¼ mile Kids Walk. Soccer takes place Saturday, July 6, for teams of three of all ages to show off your soccer skills.
On July 6, Citizens with Disability Day is sponsored by the festival. Families with a disabled member are invited at no expense for a day of carnival rides, lunch, and a DJ party.
Music is a draw, and the Frontier Stage showcases rock, blues and more with musical performances each night. The Family Stage features acts that encourage children to participate. The Main Stage rocks every night, leading with 7th Heaven, Plain White T’s, Rod TuffCurls and The Bench Press, Hoobastank and ending with American English.
This free entertainment is brought to you by Frontier Days, Inc. a not-for-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. Its team of Redshirts plans, organizes and staffs the festival. Volunteers can sign up at FrontierDays.org for one shift or many to join in the fun.
For information, visit frontierdays.org or email frontier@frontierdays.org.
If you go: Frontier Days
When: Wednesday, July 3, to Sunday, July 7
Where: Recreation Park, 500 E. Miner St., Arlington Heights
Admission: Free
Carnival: 5 p.m. to close Wednesday, July 3; noon to close Thursday, July 4; 5 p.m. to close Friday, July 5; and noon to close Saturday and Sunday, July 6-7. Ride bands are available in advance and at the festival. See frontierdays.org for details.
Parade: The parade begins at 10 a.m. July 4.
Parking and shuttle: Hours and stops are available at frontierdays.org.
Food: Typical fest fare will be for sale, as well as food from local restaurants. The beer and wine garden returns. No outside food and drinks allowed.
Other information: Grounds are open to blankets and chairs, which must be removed by the end of the day. No tarps are allowed. There is a designated area for visitors with disabilities.