Live music is filling the air this weekend at Oswego’s new entertainment venue during a four-day musical fundraiser for veterans.
The village is hosting VetFest 2021, an event in honor of military veterans and first responders underway at Venue 1012, the village’s new outdoor pavilion at 1012 Station Drive in Oswego.
The Oswego Village Board in 2019 accepted a donation of three acres off of Orchard Road to the west of the former Park N Ride lot by Oswego business owner Kevin Fialko for the outdoor entertainment venue and park.
“It was a beautiful setting and the parking facility was already there. It seemed like a natural setting for an amphitheater,” Oswego Village President Troy Parlier said.
Local officials envisioned a place where people could gather for community performances by theater groups, concerts and charitable fundraisers.
“I couldn’t put my hand up soon enough to donate the land to make it happen for the community,” Fialko said, as crowds began to gather for Thursday night’s first performances during VetFest.
Aside from being a businessman and landowner in Oswego, Fialko has other ties to the village.
“I used to watch my uncle race his car at the Oswego Dragstrip when I was about 10 years old. Oswego is close to my heart,” Fialko said.
The venue will give people a common place to come together for various events, said Fialko and his business partner Chris Skilnik.
“It’s fantastic to finally see it all come together,” Fialko said.
The four-day festival was organized by the VetFest 141 Foundation, a La Jolla, California-based nonprofit group started by a group of childhood friends who are both veterans and civilians, according to its website. The group’s mission is to honor the military community through the power of music.
A portion of proceeds from the festival are to be donated to local charities that benefit veterans and support the Oswego 308 School District, according to a village press release.
Each ticket sold offered a free ticket for a veteran or first responder such as police officers, firefighters and health care workers, Fialko said.
Fialko and Skilnik are in their fifth year working with the VetFest 141 Foundation, they said.
“It’s our way of giving back,” Fialko said.
Ken Gettemy came to the festival’s first night with his wife Susan. Ken Gettemy is a retired Naperville Police Department commander and now is the police chief in Hinckley. Gettemy has 32 years in law enforcement.
“It makes you feel good to be recognized given in this day and age police are not the most liked people in our society,” Gettemy said. “To have an event in show of support for veterans, first responders and health care workers makes everyone feel pretty good.”
Yorkville resident Dawn Carter came with a friend for the Johnny Cash tribute band The Man in Black that was Thursday’s headliner act, while Hillbilly Rock Starz was the opener. Carter was impressed with the new venue.
“I am happy to see this is in Oswego. It’s a beautiful venue,” Carter said. “There aren’t many venues like this. It’s nice to have an outdoor venue close to home.”
The VetFest festivities included a carnival and nonprofit organizations including Folds of Honor that raises money for scholarships for children and spouses of disabled and deceased veterans.
Skilnik said he and Fialko believe VetFest is a special event.
“We’re just a couple of guys who love America, our veterans and first responders. We want them to know we appreciate them,” he said.
As for the crowds coming out to the inaugural event, “It’s moving to actually see it all come together,” Skilnik said.
Oswego friends Carol Reichle and Kathy Rzepka were curious to see the new venue on Thursday night on the first evening of VetFest.
“We wanted to see what it’s really like being that it’s all new and we like the music,” Reichle said.
Chicago-area rock band 7th Heaven, with One of These Nights, an Eagles tribute band, will close out the festivities at VetFest Sunday. Concert gates will open at 4 p.m.
For ticket information, go to www.vetfest141.org.
Along with music, the event also features food, drinks and a carnival which will run from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
