Arts and crafts exhibitors and civic food booths may converge annually for Frankfort Fall Festival but the event offers several other attractions.
Other events coinciding with the festival’s 49th year include a beer and wine garden with live entertainment, a carnival, a community parade, and performers on the Breidert Green Entertainment Stage.
“This year we have added a gourmet food area to the fest that comprises 23 homemade food vendors so it’s packaged goods – maybe pasta, salsa, honey and all those good products,” said Lisa Ricchio, chair of Frankfort Fall Festival, which is set for Sept. 2-4.
“This isn’t new but we’re enhancing our fest this year by adding a beer and wine garden. We’ve always had a beer garden. We’re just making it more family-friendly and a place where people can gather and socialize all day long and enjoy beer, wine and sangria.”
There is a $5 admission fee beginning at 5:30 p.m. and patrons must be 21 or older to enter the beer and wine garden on South Oak Street.
The lineup includes Hillbilly Rockstarz on Sept. 1, Maggie Speaks on Sept. 2, Morgan Station on Sept. 2-3, Kevin Presbrey Band on Sept. 3 and Guadalupe Martinez on Sept. 4.
“The Frankfort Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to foster a healthy business climate. We support Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 and a lot of nonprofit organizations such as Lions Club, Kiwanis Club and KidsWork Children’s Museum,” said Ricchio, of New Lenox.
“The profits that are generated through this event we give back in scholarships or separate fundraising opportunities that exist in our community. As the chamber of commerce, we are the catalyst between our community and our business members,” she said. “By having this event that everyone gets to reap the benefits from, our local businesses are profitable.”
Frankfort Fall Festival artisans include people from Flossmoor, Frankfort, Homer Glen, Manhattan, Mokena, Monee, Orland Park, Palos Park and Park Forest while other artisans come from nearly 30 states.
“It occurs during Labor Day weekend. We have over 250,000 visitors. The festival welcomes approximately 300 artisans from all over the United States that exhibit their unique pieces of art,” Ricchio said.
Free entertainment on the Breidert Green Entertainment Stage includes Bopology, the GenXorcist and Phylis Renee Marconi Sept. 2; Crawford’s Daughter, School of Rock Mokena and Briggs Street Band Sept. 3; and the Brass Band and Whiskeyfist Sept. 4.
Also, the Frankfort Car Club hosts its annual exhibition of classic and vintage automobiles on Sept. 3 following the Frankfort Fall Festival Parade.
“It gives us a sense of retreat or happy anticipation of the upcoming fall and holiday season,” said Ricchio, who works in Joliet as vice president and retail small business manager for First Midwest Bank.
The Breidert Green Food Court on East Kansas Street features menus served by Frankfort Area Historical Society, Frankfort Area Jaycees, Frankfort Cub Scout Pack 270, Frankfort Girls Softball League, Frankfort Kiwanis Club, Frankfort Preservation Foundation and Frankfort Square Boy Scout Troop 237.
Other civic groups serving in the food court include Frankfort United Methodist Church, International Community Church, Lincoln-Way East Music Boosters, Lincoln-Way Central Music Boosters, Lincoln-Way East Athletic Boosters and St. Anthony’s Knights of Columbus.
“We’ve been in business for 50 years,” said Ricchio, a board member and former president of the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce. “If we can support our businesses, that will funnel into supporting our local schools, our local residents and our neighboring communities.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Frankfort Fall Festival
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 2-3; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 4
Where: Kansas and Oak streets, Frankfort
Admission: free
Information: 815-469-3356 or www.frankfortfallfestival.info
