Montgomery Fest returns to send out summer with a carnival, parade, live music and plenty of children’s activities.
The fest is in its 38th year, said Kristina Nemetz, communications manager with the Village of Montgomery. Even as the village has doubled in population over the years, the festival organizers have done a lot to maintain that small-town fest charm, she said.
That’s why you’ll still find a petting zoo, parade, fireworks and a car show, she said. There are even free shuttles to get folks to and from Montgomery Park, running from Lakewood Creek Elementary School at 2301 Lakewood Creek Drive, and Blain’s Farm and Fleet at 400 US-30.
“Montgomery is split in a very scenic way along the Fox River,” she said. “They do their events along the Fox River so you’ve got this really nice backdrop and you’re not just in a field. It really feels like a true, downtown community fest.”
This year’s parade Grand Marshal is Denny Lee, who for 20 years served the Village as an elected official and chaired Montgomery Fest for 25 years.
“He has so much history,” she said. “He volunteered at the first fest and that morphed into him being the chair of the fest. He’s a gem of a person.”
He retired two years ago and said that one of his favorite memories from chairing Montgomery Fest for so many years was picking the parade’s Grand Marshal — usually elected officials or civil servants. Lee was humbled to find himself in that group of celebrated citizens.
“It’s a great honor,” Lee said.
Montgomery has a significant Latinx population and organizers wanted that representation in the festival, she said. On Aug. 18, the bands include an acoustic/ folk-rock set by Who We Are, followed by Santana tribute act Soul Sacrifice. The headliner is Cumbia tribute band Sonora Dinamita.
She said, “29% of our population speaks Spanish as their first language. As the fest committee, we said, ‘what of our community are we not reaching appropriately and how can we best serve our community?’ Friday night is in a way our dedication to that — really trying to keep with the small-town charm but really adapting the fest to best serve our population.”
Children’s activities are well-represented on Aug. 19 with popular kid’s musical act Miss Jamie’s Farm, a petting zoo, Good Clean Fun party band, Chalk with a Cop, free car safety checks and kid’s safety ID kits and a science show with Mr. Freeze of Fermilab.
“Mr. Freeze has come for many, many years,” she said. “We’re moving him further back in the day … so he’ll finish up the family morning. He does some exploding things and different experiments.”
Other activities Aug. 19 are a blood drive, craft and vendor show and car show at Austin Park. Bands performing are Jimmy Buffett cover band South of Disorder, Kovacs and Co., Voyage Rocks and headliners Semple.
A carp derby kicks off at 6 a.m. Aug. 20.
“That’s another sweet, small-town, very attended events,” she said. “It’s run by a local Boy Scout troop and we usually have over 100 people attend each year.”
Church in the Park is at 9:30 a.m., hosted by New Life Montgomery Church.
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The parade is at 1 p.m. Aug. 20 and the craft and vendor fair returns.
“We probably have several thousand people that attend (the parade),” she said. “The cool thing is Montgomery Fire brings out all of their fire trucks. We have a couple honor guards. East Aurora band comes and plays in it.
“We have some paid entertainment, like the Shriner vehicles will be there. A bagpiper band will be in. The police department always has an entry. Public Works has their vehicles. It’s just a really fun parade.”
Bands on Aug. 20 include Flipside, Vital Signs, Planet Groove and headliners Hi Infidelity.
Fireworks cap off the festival at 9 p.m.
The festival serves to bring the community together and establishes an identity for the town, she said.
“Montgomery Fest packs a lot of punch for our community.”
Montgomery Fest
When: Aug. 18-20
Where: Montgomery Park, 301 N. River St.
Tickets: free
Information: 630-896-8080; ci.montgomery.il.us/186/Montgomery-Fest
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.