Weekend Festivals
Do you like corn? Do you love corn? The 60th Annual Mendota Sweet Corn Festival begins tonight in Mendota, IL, about two hours west of Chicago. There will be about 50 tons of corn available at this fair, as well as about 80 food and merchandise vendors, live music, and contests. On Sunday, there’s a grand parade at 1:00 p.m. followed by FREE hot buttered corn for all attendees! Every person will get three ears of corn until supplies run out. Tens of thousands of people take advantage of the free general admission every year.
You don’t have to be a horse betting expert to enjoy the Arlington Park Racetrack. This 1927 establishment has beginner windows available for those who are still learning. More experienced betters can take advantage of the wagering windows and automated wagering machines available throughout the facility. This Saturday is the park’s International Festival of Racing, featuring the 25th running of the $1 million race. Can the “Tin Man,” last year’s winner, beat the odds and become the first horse in Arlington Park history to win in back-to-back renewals?
Over one million people will come out to see the 78th Annual Bud Billiken Parade on Saturday. It is the largest African-American parade in the country, named after a fictional, child-protecting character created by Robert S. Abbott. (Abbott is the founder of the Chicago Defender, an influential Black weekly newspaper over 100 years old.) The parade begins at 39th Street and Dr Martin L King Jr Drive (a.k.a. Pershing Rd and King Drive, respectively), proceeds south to Washington Park, and includes politicians, celebrities, beauty queens, musical performers, and dozens of marching, tumbling, and dancing groups. A huge, symbolic (and fun!) event, the parade reminds young ones that summer is ending and school will be starting soon.
Sweet Corn Festival (free!): Main St & Washington St (Mendota); 815-539-6507
Aug 9: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Aug 10: 11:00 a.m. - 12 midnight
Aug 11: 9:00 a.m. - 12 midnight
Aug 12: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
http://www.sweetcornfestival.com/
Arlington Million ($10 general admission): 2200 W Euclid Ave (Arlington Heights); 847-385-7500
Aug 11: Gates open 10:00 a.m.; post time 11:45 a.m.
Free general parking, preferred parking ($5), valet ($10)
Public trans: Metra train Union Pacific Northwest Line (Arlington Park)
http://www.arlingtonpark.com/
Bud Billiken Parade (free!): 3900 S King Dr; 773-536-3710
Aug 11: 10:00 a.m.
Public trans: Bus # 3, X3, 39 or Green Line train (Indiana)
http://www.budbillikenparade.com/
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