Heritage Festival was created in 1982 as a one-day street fair to celebrate Downers Grove’s sesquicentennial, but the crowds it drew demanded a repeat performance.
In 1986, it grew to a three-day event, run by volunteers and a Community Events Commission, formed to help accommodate what local events would need from the village.
In past years, the Heritage Festival has overlapped the Taste of Chicago, but a calendar change has taken the Taste off of the last weekend in June, the traditional time for the Downers Grove fest. Mary Scalzetti, one of the four members of the village’s Community Events Commission, said they might get slightly larger crowds might be expected at this year’s festival, June 23 through 25, “because people like to go somewhere every weekend,” but the Heritage Festival has already drawn a large and faithful following.
“People who move away tie in their vacations” to the fest, coming back to partake of the fun and visit with family members, Scalzetti said. “That’s how we get our out-of-town visitors.”
Downers Grove estimates that 100,000 to 125,000 people attended last year’s festival, even though the town does little advertising for the event.
“Although we know the Heritage Festival has a significant economic importance to Downers Grove, we actually don’t have a dollar amount,” Scalzetti said. “Right now, we are in the process of doing a study to get an actual number.”
What Scalzetti knows for sure is that the Heritage Festival fills the town’s hotels with people who attend the event and come back later and shop at Downers Grove stores. In addition, many entertainers booked at the fest have mailing lists and invite their fans to come to Downers Grove.
“There is a tremendous amount of money being spent for the three-day weekend,” she said. “It’s great for the town.”
The Heritage Festival also has economic import for the non-profit groups that participate. Each group provides a different service to raise money, such as food booths, children’s games or face painting. The village doesn’t give these organizations any money to participate, but all the funds they make are theirs to keep; some groups make their entire operating budget for the year from this event. Scalzetti said profits range upward from $500, depending on how many days the organization can staff its booth or activity.
There is one exception to this policy: the beer garden, which is operated by one non-profit group that splits the profit with the village, which supplies all the beverages and food. Throughout the festival’s history, two different vendors have run the beer garden for the Village. For the last two years, the Rotary Club has presented the winning proposal. “This not-for-profit will make approximately $20,000,” she said.
New events this year include a vendor who will bring a climbing wall. Whether a climber is a beginner or advanced, the three-sided wall offers several skill levels. Geared for all ages, the wall will be staffed by trained volunteers who will assist with harnessing each participant. Tickets, at $2, will be sold for the event, which will be in the Lot o’ Fun.
Another addition is Micro-Reality stock car racing, featuring model stock cars, 1 1/2 feet long and 9 inches high, that race on a 25- to 30-foot oval track. Managed by remote control, six cars race at the same time.
“It will seem as if you are the participant in the vehicle,” Scalzetti said.
Because Downers Grove didn’t celebrate the the end of the century on Dec. 31, it will make up for it at the Heritage Festival, with fireworks displays each night at 9:30 p.m.
New technology vendors this year will include a Web on Wheels display sponsored by AT&T. An RV outfitted with several computer stations will feature plenty of interactive play for kids.
Some old favorites are returning as well. Two years ago, local teen bands played in the evening at Lot o’ Fun, a successful attraction that was held only on teen night last year because of downtown construction. Teen bands will play all three nights this year.
And because of requests by parents and children, pony rides are returning after a two-year hiatus. Kids can saddle up from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday.
The Community Events Commission is quite proud of its record.
“We’ve never had an attraction that didn’t work,” Scalzetti said. “Whatever we try seems to go over very well.”
Scalzetti believes that the high success rate is because commission members attend seminars throughout the year, try to find out if new attractions are available and research each attraction before adding it. They also check to see what other communities are doing and if the attraction was well received by visitors.
HERE ARE TIMES AND PLACES FOR HERITAGE FESTIVAL EVENTS
The Downers Grove Heritage Festival will feature food, fireworks and a variety of entertainment all three days of the fest, Friday through Sunday. Here are some of the other highlights and a day-by-day listing of key attractions:
Highlights
One-price ride preview night: From 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, before the fest officially opens, participants can try all the amusement rides for $12.
One-price kiddie rides: From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, children can try all the kiddie rides for $8.
Arts in the Park Show: From noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, nearly 60 artists showing their wares will be scattered through Fishel Park, and the DuPage Symphony Orchestra, the Downers Grove Choral Society and the Suzuki Strings will perform.
Downers Grove Museum Civil War Encampment: From 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 831 Maple Ave., soldiers will demonstrate military drills and the routines of army life.
Car show: From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, 200 restored antique and classic automobiles will be on display at the Curtiss Lot and Burlington Avenue.
Climbing wall: On Friday, Saturday and Sunday (see list below for times), a climbing wall will be set up for those wishing to get a feel for rock climbing. The Indian Boundary YMCA will bring trained volunteers to help with harnessing participants.
Day-by-day listing
Friday
Street fair: 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Pay-one-price kiddie rides: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Amusement rides: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Craft show: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Petting zoo: 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Climbing wall: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Pony rides: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Stock car racing: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Downers Grove Museum open house: Noon to 4 p.m.
Beer garden: 4 to 10:30 p.m.
Bingo: 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Line dance lessons: 8 to 9 p.m.
Fireworks: 9:30 p.m.
Saturday
Street fair: 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Amusement rides: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Craft show: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Petting zoo: 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Civil War encampment: 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Climbing wall: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Pony rides: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Stock car racing: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Beer garden: Noon to 10:30 p.m.
Bingo: 4 to 10:30 p.m.
Line dance lessons: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Square dance lessons: 7 to 9 p.m.
Swing dance lessons: 8 to 9:30 p.m.
Fireworks: 9:30 p.m.
Sunday
Car show: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Stock car racing: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Arts in the Park Show: Noon to 5 p.m.
Street fair: Noon to 10 p.m.
Amusement rides: Noon to 10 p.m.
Beer garden: Noon to 10 p.m.
Downers Grove Museum open house: Noon to 4 p.m.
Climbing wall: 12:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Petting zoo: 1 to 7 p.m.
Pony rides: 1 to 7 p.m.
Bingo: 1 to 10 p.m.
Fireworks: 9:30 p.m.
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For more information on the festival, call 630-434-5555 or visit www.vil.downers-grove.il.us/
