The 37th annual Montgomery Festival opens today, Friday, and is bringing with it tons of live entertainment, food, a carnival, a parade and more to the banks of the Fox River in the village’s historic downtown.
As in years past, most of the holiday events will take place in Montgomery Park at 301 North River Street.
New to this year’s festival will be a fun-filled city wind carnival. In addition, the popular car show is moved to Saturday from Sunday, offering a later start of the show for the convenience of visitors from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
A complete schedule of events is listed below and updated on the village’s website, montgomeryil.org.
Limited party parking is available on the street and in the Lyon Metal parking lot at 421 N. Main St., just west of the grounds. Shuttle buses will run every half hour from 5am to 10pm on Friday and from 11am to 10pm on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, go to the village website.
This is this year’s festival schedule:
FRIDAY, AUG. 19
• 5 to 10 p.m.: Beer tent, food vendors, free shuttle to party.
• 17 to 22:00: Carnival; unlimited carnival rides available from 5 to 9 p.m. for $35.
Live entertainment
• From 4 to 5:30 p.m.: Who we are.
• 17:30 to 19:30: Kovac & Company.
• 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Semple.
SATURDAY, AUG. 20
• From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Food vendors.
• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Austin Park Historic Preservation Commission car show.
• From 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.: Free transportation to the party.
• From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Beer tent.
• noon to 10:00 p.m.: Carnival; unlimited carnival passes are available from noon to 4pm for $30 and from 5pm to 9pm for $35.
Fun for all ages
• 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.: Fermilab’s Mr. Freeze science show on the main stage.
• 10 a.m. to noon: Chalk with a Cop, Montgomery Police Department.
• From 11:00 to 19:00: Petting Zoo.
Live entertainment
• 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: The Lenny.
• 1 to 3 p.m.: Roads.
• 15:30 to 17:00: Travel.
• 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Cadillac Groove.
• 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Nashville Electric Company.
SUNDAY, AUG. 21
• From 10:00 to 21:00: Food vendors.
• From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Beer tent.
• From 11:00 to 22:00: Free transport.
• Noon to 9:00 p.m.: Carnival; unlimited carnival wristband available from noon to 4pm for $30 and from 5pm to 9pm for $35.
Fun for all ages
• 6am to 2pm: Carp Fishing Derby.
• 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.: Church in the Park with New Life Community Church in Montgomery.
• 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.: Yoga in the Park with Barre Oswego Neighborhood.
• From 11:00 to 19:00: Petting Zoo.
• noon: Jimmy Jamz Kids Show in front of Village Hall.
• 1 p.m.: Parade departs from Main & Madison.
• 21:00: Fireworks, starting from Austin Park.
Live entertainment
• 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: South of Disorder.
• 2 to 4 p.m.: Evil Burrito.
• 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Planet Groove.
• 7 to 9 p.m.: Hi-Pabesi.
Unless otherwise noted, all activities are in Montgomery Park, at River and Mill streets. The beer tent is hosted by the Montgomery Foundation and on Food Vendor Row along River Street between Mill Street and Taylor Street. ATMs are on site near the food vendors, at the Village Hall and at the carnival.
The Village of Montgomery would like to recognize and thank this year’s Montgomery Fest sponsors who make this community event possible: Introducing Sponsor, US Medical Glove; Diamond Sponsors – Ascension Mercy, FT Cares Foundation; Gold Sponsors – Aurora University, Blain’s Farm & Fleet, Engineering Enterprises Inc., Fox Valley Park District, Golden China Buffet, Rep. State Keith Wheeler, Performance Food Service, WSPY-FM News and WDSY Country Radio Stations. Additionally, the village would like to thank the Fox Valley Park District for its continued support of this celebration by providing Montgomery and Austin parks as a backdrop and the Montgomery-Countryside Fire Protection District for helping provide a safe event environment for the community.
For information on how to get involved with Montgomery Fest, visit montgomeryil.org.
