Frankfort Fall Fest set to return Labor Day weekend
By JON DEPAOLIS, Publisher
FRANKFORT, Ill. — A staple of south suburban life is set to return this Labor Day weekend, as the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce is gearing up to put on the annual Frankfort Fall Fest.
While there is no specific theme for this year’s festival, event organizers are excited to be able to bring back the Fall Fest after it was canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re just grateful to be having the fest,” said Frankfort Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kris Pasquini, who noted that the planning process for the fest has been “crazy” since the Chamber received the official green light to move forward with putting on a full festival without restrictions. “Initially, we were going to try do a modified fest. Then, when word got out that everything was going to be opened, we were given the go-ahead by the Village in late May] to do a full fest. It’s been full speed ahead since then.”
This year’s Fall Fest has 312 booths, with 264 artisans, 23 gourmet food vendors and 25 downtown Frankfort businesses.
“It’s a little lower than in past years, but what we did this year was instead of putting applications out because it was so late, we just invited [back] everybody who we had accepted in 2020,” Pasquini said.
The hours for the arts and craft show are: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6.
Breidert Green Entertainment Stage (Ash and Kansas streets)
Saturday, Sept. 4
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Electric Ave.
2-3:30 p.m. – Loretto Lane
4:30-6:30 p.m. – Strung Out
Sunday, Sept. 5
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Crawford’s Daughter
2-3:30 p.m. – Phylis Marconi
4:30-6:30 p.m. – Dad Strength
Monday, Sept. 6
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Spotlight Arts Collective
2-4 p.m. – Whiskeyfist
The Garden (Oak Street)
Friday, Sept. 3
8:15–11 p.m. – Radio Gaga (Freddie Mercury and Lady Gaga Tribute)
Saturday, Sept. 4
2-5 p.m. – Joey Kar (Runner-up in Season 15 of “America’s Got Talent”)
8-11 p.m. – To be announced
Sunday, Sept. 5
2-5 p.m. – Related Rhapsody
8-11 p.m. – One of These Nights (Eagles Tribute Band)
Monday, Sept. 6
1-3 p.m. – Frankfort Brass Band
Location: White Street, just north of Kansas Street
Hours:
Wednesday, Sept. 1: 5-9 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 2: 5- 9 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 3: 5-9:30 p.m. (Special Needs Day runs from 3-5 p.m.)
Saturday, Sept. 4: Noon-9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 5: Noon-9:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 6: Noon-5 p.m.
With a full fest planned, help is needed.
“We are a volunteer-run fest,” Pasquini said.
To recruit some volunteers, Chamber members had a booth at the Frankfort Country Market. A new volunteer meeting also was held on June 23, which approximately 40 to 50 people attended.
Pasquini said the Chamber will be back at the Country Market on July 11 and will have another new volunteer meeting at 7 p.m. on July 21 at Village Hall, 432 W. Nebraska St.
“It will give them an opportunity to come and learn about the fest and the different areas we need volunteers,” Pasquini said of the new volunteer meeting. “Then, they have the opportunity to sign up. Most of the time slots are four-hour shifts over the weekend, but there are a lot of four-hour shifts.”
The annual Fall Fest Parade is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5.
“Right now, we’ve got about 51 entries in the parade,” said Pasquini, who added that the parade application deadline is being extended through the end of July.
Meanwhile, parking is set to be available with a $10 donation to Frankfort Boy Scout Troop No. 270 on LaGrange Road and Nebraska Street. A shuttle bus will be available from the lot. Parking also is available at the Trolley Barn lot with a $15 donation to Operation Playground.
Fest-goers should note that no pets are allowed, with the exception of service animals.
“We’re very excited that we are able to bring [the festival] back,” Pasquini said.
For more information about the Fall Fest, visit https://www.frankfortchamber.com/frankfort-fall-festival/.