Burlington Fall Fest blends the old and new
By Jeanie Mayer For The Courier-News September 1, 2012 10:50PM
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Fireman’s Dance
The night before the Fall Festival, the Burlington Community Fire Protection District is hosting its 36th annual Fireman’s Dance featuring Prime Time Live Band from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Sept. 8 at the fire barn, 154 South St., Burlington.
Admission is $6
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Updated: October 4, 2012 6:10AM
BURLINGTON — For nearly 30 years, the village has celebrated the harvest season with a fall festival. This year’s event is on Sunday, Sept. 9.
For the past four years, the event has been organized by the Odd Fellows Lodge 105. Tom Carey served as the Warden of the local philanthropic organization and said this year the Fall Fest will have a few new twists.
Events begin at 9 a.m. with the Old Car Show. A $20 entry fee can be paid that day to show your antique, and both foreign and domestic cars can be included. Cash prizes will be awarded and a 50/50 raffle will take place. Carey said that this year the featured cars will be convertibles of any model.
As in years past, the fun kicks off at the Burlington Park, 401 Park Street, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with food vendors, hay rides, face painting and the turkey drop game in which participants pay for a chance to win when a live turkey waddles over a grid painted on the ground and the luck of the plop determines which two lucky bettors win the pot. Any of the 100 squares on the grid can be purchased for $5 or $10 each.
“The money raised (from this game) — usually $750 — goes to the Burlington/Hampshire Food Pantry and the winners receive $250 and $500 respectively,” Carey said.
As in year’s past, the event will include a beer tent, but this year, participants won’t have to go home early to catch the kickoff of the Chicago Bears opening game.
“This year we will have two 60-inch big screen televisions in the beer tent. Fall Fest occurs on opening day every year and we tend to lose a few people starting at about 4:30 for the game,” Carey said, hoping this added feature holds football fans at the festival longer.
One of the popular features of the festival has been the farmer’s market featuring Klein’s Vegetables and the craft show. This year, Carey said the Northern Illinois Crafters Association will be sending approximately 25 crafters — that’s in addition to the 25 vendors the festival usually nets.
For the kids, there will be a mini zoo with at least twenty different kinds of animals to feed and pet. Pony rides will be available for the younger kids and there will be a variety of bounce-houses, a clown show, a big slide and more. Carey said a new attraction will be the addition of a water ball game.
“They bring in a huge three-foot deep pool and kids climb into something like a hamster ball and run around on the water,” Carey said.
At noon, the parade through town begins led by grand marshal and organizer Cori Cork. Throughout the day, live music from Menagerie and Helium Fuse will be playing for the enjoyment of fest-goers.
