Four days of music planned for annual ItascaFest July 11-14
For over three decades, the Itasca Lions Club, the Village of Itasca, and the Itasca Park District have partnered to bring the popular ItascaFest to the community.
The annual festival with family-friendly activities, a car show, food, games, bingo, and live music returns on July 11-14 at Washington Park, a six-acre field behind the Itasca Park District.
Festival hours are: 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, 6 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, noon to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 11 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is free. There are two controlled entrance locations to Washington Park: Irving Park Road or Washington Street. Accessible parking is offered in the east parking lot of Raymond Bensen Primary School, 301 E. Washington St. St. Luke's Lutheran Church & School is offering parking at a daily cash rate.
Music stage
There will be live music all four days at the Lions Den Pavilion.
Form will be opening Itasca Fest on Thursday, with original music, as well as alternative and blues rock covers, from 7 to 10:30 p.m.
The music stage will open on Friday with South of Disorder bringing their Island Rock tribute from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by headliner Boy Band Review, re-creating the music of NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, New Kids on the Block, Jonas Brothers and more, from 9 to 11 p.m.
On Saturday, the eight-piece band Lake Effect will open the music stage from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by Petty Kings, featuring all the best songs by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, plus other musical surprises, from 6 to 8 p.m. Headliner ARRA, the classic rock band, will close out the third night of the fest from 9 to 11 p.m.
On Sunday, Throwback Jukebox, the classic rock band specializing in hard-driving songs from the 1950s to the ’70s, will open the music stage at 3 p.m. Brass from the Past will perform the hits of Motown, pop, jazz, R&B, soul, rock, and funk at 5:30 p.m.
Headliner Think Floyd USA, marking its 20th year as a Pink Floyd tribute band, will close out the four-day festival at 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
Family fun
At the Lester's Family Entertainment Tent, there will be sing-along shows by Mary Macaroni, juggling by Andrew Head, Ali the Hoop Artist, and magician and mentalist Ken Mate. The family tent is open from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Lines will be long so they recommend arriving at least one hour prior to each session end time to ensure your child gets a spot.
Enjoy some Cash Bingo in the air-conditioned Itasca Park District gym from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Participants must be 18 or older. Beverages will be available.
In addition, the monthlong fishing contest at Happy Acres Pond on Bryn Mawr Avenue will close at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 14 with the last catch. This free fishing contest, which started on June 17, is open to all ages. The awards ceremony will be at noon July 14 on the main stage.
The classic car show returns from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday in Usher Park, 200 S. Walnut St.
Unlimited ride wristbands are available at the Itasca Public Library, Itasca Park District and the Itasca Village Hall. There is a $25 presale discount, ending July 10. The $30 wristband will be available at the fest for Thursday, or 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday or Sunday. The cost is $35 for Friday.
For the full schedule, go to www.itascalionsclub.org.