The evolving COVID-19 environment is largely responsible for the volatility of this year s summer festival schedule across the suburbs, local organizers say.
Updated 5/27/2021 11:44 AM
Two months after calling off Frontier Days in Arlington Heights for a second straight year, organizers are reversing course and planning a scaled-down version of the annual summer festival.
Members of the festival s operating board have decided they will hold a carnival from July 1-5, the originally scheduled days of the fest, at its traditional home at Recreation Park.
The big-name main stage entertainment that has long been a hallmark of the event, and helped to make it one of the largest summer festivals in the suburbs, will not be included, however. We re trying, said Lars Ohrstrom, Frontier Days board president. We saw this as a chance to have something for the people of the village over the 4th and yet minimize the need for Red Shirts (volunteers).
What suburbs are doing about summer festivals and what the experts say Elk Grove Village is planning to have outdoor events with no requirements for masks, social distancing or crowd capacity starting with Rotary Fest on June 16. Daily Herald file photo, 2000
Patrons lined up for barbecue during Ribfest in Naperville two years ago. This year s event will be in Romeoville, and social distancing will be a top priority. Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Pictured here is Ribfest in Naperville two years ago. This year s event will be in Romeoville, and social distancing will be a top priority. Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Frontier Days canceled for second year in a row in Arlington Heights
Crowds that packed the midway during Frontier Days in Arlington Heights in 2019 won t return until 2022, amid the festival s cancellation for the second year in a row. Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer, 2019
Updated 3/10/2021 6:29 PM
One of the largest summer festivals in the suburbs Frontier Days in Arlington Heights is canceled for the second year in a row, organizers announced Wednesday.
Cancellation of the five-day festival of bands, food, arts and crafts, carnival rides, family entertainment and games also comes with the postponement of the 4th of July Parade and Stampede run that takes place over the same long summer weekend. All events are organized by the Frontier Days, Inc. nonprofit group and its volunteer board of directors.