Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com
One of Romeoville’s biggest attractions of the year took place last weekend as the Romeofest attracted thousands of fans ready to enjoy a weekend of fun.
What use to be intriguing to fans was the precursor to the Romeofest called the Founders Day Festival, but as Mayor John Noak said, Romeofest has been around a long time and it’s beloved by spectators.
“That Founders Day Festival happened around the fall and it was popular but every year the Romeofest is just a great gathering for people to come to,” Noak said.
Family enjoys a cooling off party at the Romeofest. (Photo by Ryan Ostry)
From Aug. 1-4, food vendors, games, music and rides were all on display for the weekend that provided a lot of sunshine.
Other events that visitors were able to partake in and enjoy were an adult beanbag tournament, bingo, a car show, food fest 1-mile race, fireworks and a men’s softball tournament.
“It’s really become the main event every year and it honestly wasn’t that long ago where we just had the event around the [recreation] center and village hall,” Noak said. “Throughout the last 10 years or so we’ve been having it it’s not just become a great venue for the community, but the whole region as a whole.”
One of the more popular sights to see at the fest was the live entertainment on the main stage.
Included in the performances throughout the weekend were American English, a Beatles tribute band, Hi Infidelity, Jose Valdes & The Mambo All Stars, Rockstar Rodeo and others.
Romeofest also featured food booths and a beverage garden open throughout each day of the carnival where kids and parents were able to enjoy a family fun zone.
In the family fun zone, other activities were available for families such as viewing several shows, laser tag, taking photos with characters, face painting and more.
For one local parent that brought his kids to the popular event for just one day was enough satisfaction to be a yearly customer in the future.
“It’s been a really good first experience for me and my kids so far,” said Lockport resident Rich Fischer. “The kids of course enjoy the carnival, we have all really loved the food and it’s definitely a fun experience that we will be back to next year in 2020.”