Alpine Fest Celebration Is This Weekend

The Lake Zurich community is expected to converge upon downtown – and and, specifically, Lions Park – for the 69th annual Alpine Fest this weekend.

Rides, games, food, entertainment and, of course, the big parade are all on tap for this weekend’s festivities, hosted by the Lake Zurich Lions Club.

“To me, it basically brings back the small-town feeling,” said Footloose Frank, who is organizing Alpine Fest. “It brings families together.”

Alpine Fest started as a carnival in 1942 to celebrate soldiers returning home from World War II. It was initially hosted by the volunteer firefighters, with the Lions Club offering to provide soda. The Lions Club took over Alpine Fest in 1945, hosting the festivities at the then-new Lions Park.

Slated for July 22-24, Alpine Fest will feature 17 rides, games and a variety of entertainment. The county’s largest parade will be held at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Frank said the highlight of the parade is the end, when firefighters, accompanied by trucks, mist the crowd with water. Residents who have lined the streets to watch the parade then follow the parade to Lions Park, Frank said.

While admission to Lions Park is free, Frank said there is a $5 charge to enter the entertainment tent. On both Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4:30 p.m., children can purchase wristbands for unlimited carnival rides for just $15. Coupons for $2 off that price are available on the Lake Zurich Lions Club website.

Plenty of food will also be available for purchase, including: burgers, fries, hot wings, Italian sausage, beef sandwiches, and brats with sauerkraut. There also will be typical “midway foods,” Frank said, including pretzels, popcorn and snow cones.

“We don’t do anything small in Lake Zurich,” said Frank.

There will also be a 50/50 raffle, with half of the proceeds going toward the Lions Club’s scholarship fund. A community blood drive also will be held Saturday.

The Lake Zurich Farmers Market will be held Saturday instead of Friday this week. The market will be held on Main Street starting at noon Saturday.

Here’s what’s on tap for entertainment this weekend:

July 22 – Park opens at 6 p.m.
Family tent

• 6-6:45 p.m. Sabala Dance Troup
• 7-8 p.m. Dance Ensemble
• 8:30-9 p.m. Dance Exchange

Entertainment tent/big top

• 7:30-9 p.m. Kevin Purcell and the Night Burners

July 23 – Park opens at noon
Family tent

• 2-2:45 p.m. Mad Science Fire and Ice Show
• 4-5 p.m. Magic Dave Magician Extraordinaire

    Entertainment tent/big top

• 6:30-8:30 p.m. Class of ’68
• 9:30-11:30 p.m. Modern Day Romeos

July 24 – Park opens at 1 p.m.
Family tent

• 2-3 p.m. Chuck Field, ventriloquist
• 3-4 p.m. Dennis DeBondt, a funny magic show

Entertainment tent/big top

• 2:45-4:45 p.m. Deja Vu
• 5:45-9 p.m. Out of Storage