PrairieFest Headliners and Activities Announced

Editor's Note: The following is from a press release issued by the Oswegoland Park District:

For as long as anyone can remember, Father’s Day weekend has meant a hometown festival around here. Known originally as Oswego Days, the event began as a Jaycee fund raising carnival in the early ‘60’s.

In the following years, the Oswego Business Association added sidewalk sales, vendors, and a street dance. The last Oswego Days was held in 1987, and in 1988 there wasn’t a festival in Oswego.

Responding to the need for a community celebration, the Oswegoland Park District took over coordination of the event in 1988, renaming it PrairieFest.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Oswegoland Park District’s PrairieFest.  Free gate admission, children’s performers, main stage entertainment, and a wide variety of family activities draw approximately 50,000 people to Oswego during the festival weekend.

With the help of many generous PrairieFest business partners, the festival offers headliner entertainment.  This June PrairieFest will feature Chicago Spazmatics on Thursday night, Epic and Infinity on Friday night and on Saturday night, Cool Rockin’ Daddies and .38 Special!

Although many of the events are on the PrairieFest Park festival grounds south of Oswego High School, there are activities organized throughout the Oswego community including the Quilt Show at the White School Museum, the Duck Race on the Fox River, the Civil War Encampment at Hudson Crossing Park, and, of course, the PrairieFest Parade held Sunday afternoon in downtown Oswego.

As Oswegoland Park District’s Special Events Supervisor, Kristie Vest leads a team of Park District staff who plan year round and work tirelessly for four days to make the celebration reach their mission of creating opportunities for healthy community.  

Vest credits staff as well as the hundreds of volunteers, businesses partners, and community organizations for maintaining the character of this festival. “My favorite aspect of the event is that at its heart, PrairieFest is part block party, part family reunion” states Vest, “This festival is the definition of a true community event not because it is a cherished memory for everyone here, but because everyone plays a part in hosting”

The Oswegoland Park District encourages everyone in the community to find their place at PrairieFest.  Groups are welcome to put event ideas together for submission in the event schedule. 

The Oswegoland Park District invites anyone to volunteer at the event.  Groups are welcome to raise money for their favorite charity with the PrairieFest Bed Races on Sunday, June 16.  If your business would like to help support the community festival, partnerships are always accepted. 

For more information on how you can get involved in this year’s PrairieFest, contact Kristie Vest at (630)554-4425 or email kvest@oswegolandpd.org. You can also get the latest festival information at www.prairiefest.com. See you at the Fest!

 Thursday, June 13

• Me Too @PrairieFest; An Exceptional Afternoon for Exceptional Kids
• Prairie Winds Community Band Concert
• Expo Village
• PrairieFest Princesses and Pirates
• Chicago Spazmatics, PrairieFest Main Stage

Friday, June 14

• Jim Gill,  PrairieFest Main Stage
• Magician Jake Prosek
• OFEE Barbecue
• Expo Village
• Epic, PrairieFest Main Stage
• Infinity, PrairieFest Main Stage

Saturday, June 15

• Fishing Clinic at Chesterfield Park
• Expo Village
• Flying Fool Children’s Entertainer
• Rope Warrior Children’s Entertainer
• Bucket Brigade, Festival Grounds
• Civic War Encampment, Hudson Crossing Park
• Cool Rockin’ Daddies, PrairieFest Main Stage
• .38 Special, PrairieFest Main Stage

Sunday, June 16

• PrairieFest 5K and One Mile Prairie Dog Jog, Prairie Point Center
• PrairieFest Parade
• Rotary Duck Race, Hudson Crossing Park
• Expo Village
• PrairieFest Car Show, PrairieFest Park
• PrairieFest Bed Races, PrairieFest Park

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

• Pony Rides
• Miller’s Petting Zoo
• Windy City Amusements
• Vogel’s Exotic Animals Petting Zoo
• Quilt Show, White School Museum
• Community Group Activities