The Carpentersville area is set to start its celebrations for the nation’s 250th anniversary a week early. The weekend will feature a blues festival, parade, fireworks, and a car show.
Duke’s Blues N’ BBQ Festival
The festivities kick off Friday with Duke’s Blues N’ BBQ Festival at Carpenter Park. This event, organized by East Dundee restaurateur Terrance “Duke” Seward and his Taste The Love nonprofit, has been held since 2016, with a break during the COVID-19 pandemic. The highlights include a performance by Carlisle Guy and the NuBlu Band on Saturday night. Seward credits his wife, Rhiannon, who leads a six-member board, for the event’s success.
The festival features 16 bands over three days. Friday’s performances run from 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and it concludes on Sunday with an auto show and more music from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Food will be provided by Seward’s barbecue restaurant, Taqueria El Tio Ramos, Cook’s Ice Cream, Happy’s Pretzels, Street Eats, and Jamaica Mi Hungry.
Independence Day Parade
Carpentersville’s Independence Day parade will step off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 27. The route circles around Carpenter Park due to construction near village hall. Jen Hyde, the marketing and special events coordinator, says that the updated path allows for more comfortable viewing and highlights the park’s beauty, finishing near the Carpenter Park band shell.
The parade features around 50 entries, including performances by the Fox Valley Flourish Twirling Club, Bringing Out Talent Dance Company, Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois-Prairie Skies Service Unit, and the River City Rhythm Drum Line.
Dundee Township Park District Celebration
The Dundee Township Park District’s festivities, complete with fireworks, run from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Meadowdale Park and Shopping Center. Katie Keller, superintendent of marketing and communications, notes that traffic flow and parking access might be affected due to roadwork on Besinger Drive. Guests are advised to park at the Meadowdale Shopping Center and follow walking paths to the event.
The event will have food and beverage vendors like Kona Ice, K’s Vending, the Lions Club, and La Chilanguita. Entertainment includes a DJ and a climbing tree for children, with fireworks slated for 9:30 p.m.
Sunday Car Show and Final Events
The weekend will close with a car show and additional music at Carpenter Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Among the acts will be a band from Dundee Middle School. In light of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the festival’s souvenir T-shirt will commemorate the occasion.