The beer and wine will be flowing this weekend in downtown Elgin with separate but complementary outdoor fests taking part Friday and Saturday evenings.
On Friday, from 5-9 p.m., the Elgin Area Convention and Visitors Bureau hosts its first Pour on the Promenade Festival along Riverside Drive.
Folks posting on social media have been looking for an event of this sort in the city, according to Krisilee Murphy, the bureau’s director of marketing.
“They were looking for an excuse to walk around, look at art and drink some beer or wine,” Murphy said.
The night will include 20 artists who will set up their work for sale. Murphy said some will be working on-site, including a potter. For those less artsy, there will be yard games to play, including a beanbag toss, giant dice and an extra-large Jenga set.
Food will be available for sale at three food trucks, Murphy said: Ruthella’s New Orleans Cuisine; Golden Eagle Hot Dogs; and eclectic offerings from Catering Made simple — including a recreation of Elgin-famous Morris pulled pork barbecue. For those with a sweet tooth, Butter & Flour LLC will sell pastries. And for smokers, La Vita Cigars will sell cigars, with an area set up in a parking lot north of Riverside Drive for smoking.
Downtown establishments Martini Room and Chooch’s Pizza will provide American and foreign wines and local craft beers. There will be cooking demonstrations and live music, as well.
Murphy said there also will be a digital component to the Friday fun — a scavenger hunt based on knowledge about local bars and restaurants. Signs posted throughout the promenade will display the game’s rules. The bureau will pick one winner for a stay at a local hotel.
Tickets for the event are $20 in advance until 4 p.m. Thursday and $25 at the gate and include a glass and seven tickets for drink samples. Attendance will be capped at 750. For more information, visit northernfoxrivervalley.com/visit/pour-on-the-promenade/.
Pour on the Promenade is co-sponsored by the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission, which will have a booth touting its upcoming events, and a portion of event proceeds will go to the Elgin Parks and Recreation Foundation.
Another co-sponsor, the Grand Victoria Casino, will have a booth to let folks know about its Saturday “Rocktoberfest.”
“We are looking forward to having a great crowd join us on Saturday as we end the summer with our first-ever Rocktoberfest,” casino marketing and public relations manager Marilou Pilman said. “We have a fun-filled day planned, with lots of great food, beer, music, and exciting giveaways.”
Gates for the evening in Festival Park open at 5 p.m., with Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain on hand to tap a keg of beer at 5:30 p.m. That’s followed by a stein-hoisting contest at 6:30 p.m. and a second beer-tapping led by the winner.
Traditional German festival food will be available for sale as will a variety of Oktoberfest beers, hard cider and an American light beer.
For those who belong to the casino’s Club GVC, there will be drawings later in the night for a Rhine River cruise and for memorabilia of the night’s performers.
Instead of traditional German oompah music, Saturday night will be capped off when alternative rock act Vertical Horizon takes the stage at 7 p.m. followed by Everclear at 8:45 p.m.
General admission is $15 in advance before Oct. 1 and $20 at the gate. For information, go to www.grandvictoriacasino.com/events/gvc-summer-concert-series/.
mdanahey@tribpub.com
