Summerfest volunteers throw a party for Villa Park

Close to 80 Villa Park residents have taken it upon themselves to ensure that their community has a memorable summer festival.

“It’s very local in nature,” said Sam Greco, the chairman of the Summerfest Commission.

The annual festival runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 18, in the Ardmore Business District, at Ardmore Avenue and Park Boulevard in Villa Park, and would not exist without its extensive team of volunteers.

Over the festival’s six-year run, support has come not only from residents and business owners, but also from locally based performers.

Groups like Perry’s Music Rock and Roll University, The Crown Vics, Wombat Carnival and Bob Musial and Friends are set to perform throughout the day, along with headliners the Mad Hatters, who will take the stage from 7 to 9 p.m.

Admission to the event is free, partially because all of the Summerfest bands perform for free.

“We’ve got some who are seriously pro bands and get pretty good money for their events,” Greco said.

Greco notes that a local member of the band The Crown Vics even “pays the rest of his musicians out of his own pocket” to facilitate the performance at Summerfest.

“It’s a true street fest,” Greco said. “And being local in nature, it really is part of the community.”

The food tempting the taste buds of fest attendees will not be “carnival food,” but rather fare from vendors located in a close radius to Villa Park, like Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue and Panda Express, Greco said.

An arts and crafts fair as well as a business fair with booths representing local organizations will offer the estimated 1,500 festival goers an extensive venue for browsing.

This year, the Villa Park Summerfest will feature a kids stage with a kid-friendly DJ, magician and balloon artist. Entertainment and games for all ages in the festival’s children’s area will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A 75-foot obstacle course, rock climbing wall and Eurobungee also will be available for festival goers to enjoy. Tickets for such attractions cost 50 cents each; an all-day wristband is available for $10.

Above all, Greco says, the event is focused on bringing the community together.

“We get as many as 1,500 people and the bulk of them are Villa Park residents,” Greco said. “You can walk around and see tons of people that you know.”