The city of Elgin, village of Hanover Park, Hanover Township, and village of Hoffman Estates partnered to sponsor the Northwest Fourth Fest on the grounds of the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates in 2012. | File~Sun-Times media
Children seek shelter from the sun in the shade of the carousel at the Northwest Fourth Fest on Wednesday July 4, 2012. | Katherine Peters~Sun-Times Media
Groupo Folklorico Quetzal were one of the many groups providing fest-goers with multicultural entertainment at the Northwest Fourth Fest in Hoffman Estates on Wednesday July, 4th 2012. | Katherine Peters~Sun-Times Media
Chloe Colsant, 3, did not need any help from father winning a goldfish from a carnival game at the Northwest Fourth Fest in Hoffman Estates on Wednesday July 4, 2012. | Katherine Peters~Sun-Times Media
Children enjoy the carnval rides at the Northwest Fourth Fest in Hoffman Estates on Wednesday July 4, 2012. | Katherine Peters~Sun-Times Media
Groupo Folklorico Quetzal were one of the many groups providing fest-goers with multicultural entertainment at the Northwest Fourth Fest in Hoffman Estates on Wednesday July, 4th 2012. | Katherine Peters~Sun-Times Media
Chloe Colsant, 3, did not need any help from father winning a goldfish from a carnival game at the Northwest Fourth Fest in Hoffman Estates on Wednesday July 4, 2012. | Katherine Peters~Sun-Times Media
The City of Elgin, the Village of Hanover Park, Hanover Township, and the Village of Hoffman Estates partnered together on the grounds of the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates for the Northwest Fourth Fest on Wednesday July 4, 2012. | Katherine Peters~Sun-Times Media
Brett Stocker, his wife, Korin, and their 5-month-old baby were enjoying the food and music under a tent Wednesday at the first-ever Northwest Fourth-Fest. Even though it was a very hot day — with temperature readings of 102 degrees reported at O’Hare — they were …