Crowds pack Naperville’s Last Fling fest to soak up a little end-of-summer music, food and carnival rides – Chicago Tribune

In its fourth decade as a late summer tradition in Naperville, Last Fling continues to evolve but not disappoint as thousands enjoyed food, drinks, rides, games, music and the feeling of contributing to something positive on opening night of Friday.

“We want to come and listen to some music. We like local bands. We’re big supporters of local bands,” said Chris Dunham, of Channahon, as Naperville-based pop/rock band Within Four Days played the stage at Jackson Avenue and Main Street.

Dunham and her friend, Carol Biagi, of Berwyn, said they didn’t mind that Last Fling organizers decided to eschew national acts and multiple stages in favor of a scaled-down free festival with local bands and a carnival that runs through the moon.

“We got to the point when it came to selling beer, we weren’t making enough profit with what we were paying acts,” said Last Fling entertainment chairman Danielle Tufano. “In the end, we’ll end up networking more.”

All of that money goes to the nonprofit Naperville Jaycees, which runs the festival with the help of several hundred volunteers, including 14-year-old Allie Budney and 11-year-old Abby Guebert.

“It’s more fun than work,” Guebert said.

Budney agreed, adding that she decided to volunteer “to help the community. My father was a Jaycee.”

While the Jaycees make money from beer sales, sponsorships and vendor fees, some individual booths were also contributing all of their net income to the group’s mission of community service.

“We hope to raise $30,000 for the Jaycees at the Last Fling,” said Aspen Lane Wine Co. co-owner. Bob Evanosky. He started the winery with his wife, Sonya, at their home on Aspen Lane in Aurora to raise money for families with a disabled child.

“We had three children with severe disabilities. They’re the reason why we do this,” Bob said.

The couple’s children were born with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), which causes muscle weakness, progressive vision loss and eventual paralysis.

“It shows up around age 3,” said Sonya, who didn’t know her twins had the rare genetic disorder when they were 2 and had her third child.

Their son John died of the disease at the age of 15. Their 20-year-old son Christopher needs 24-hour care and their 18-year-old son Jack also has MLD.

Aspen Lane Wine donates all net proceeds from the sale of slushys and wine by the glass at various festivals like Last Fling “to help others not go through the suffering and problems we’re going through,” Bob said.

The winery donates to organizations like the Marklund Residential Facility for the Disabled and DuPagePads.

Biagi tried one of the wine juices, and the drink was that much sweeter when she learned that her money was supporting struggling families. “It’s very refreshing. And we got it for a good cause,” she said.

The energized crowd that poured into the festival grounds filled the area in front of the stage and lined up for games and rides.

“They’re going to get me for this thing,” 8-year-old Fiona Wozniak said of the popular Freak Out ride. Her mother, Ashlee, didn’t seem so sure, but she promised Fiona and her 4-year-old sister Emmy they’d get $30 wristbands that would let them enjoy unlimited rides.

“We have lived here for a little over a year. That’s really cool,” Ashlee said.

Her husband, Chris, said they planned to explore the special area with trips more suitable for younger people and “to get away from the teenagers”.

“People love it. It’s a community block party,” Tufano said. “We got feedback from the community and dropped the entry fee. We wanted to make this an event that everyone could enjoy. Everyone feels safe. There is something for everyone.

“On Mondays we do a veterans luncheon,” Tufano said. It’s her favorite part of Last Fling because she gets to see veterans enjoying free food and ice cream and “hear their stories. We call it Support Our Troops Day.”

Diane Moca is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.