Cindy Summers admits she has only been an Elburn resident for two years but said one of the perks of living in the village is its annual community festival.
“We came early this year and we’re glad we have time to do some different things,” she said at Elburn Days over the weekend. “My daughter wants to play some carnival games. I didn’t know anything about Elburn Days and we live in the little part that’s near St. Charles. We discovered this last year and really liked how this whole community comes together.”
The Elburn Lions Club’s biggest fundraiser of the year was held over the weekend with the annual Elburn Days, which ran from Friday to Sunday.
Launched back in 1933, the Lions Club first held the event under the name of “A Day in the Park,” which later gave way to Elburn Days.
Once again, a full slate of activities was on tap including carnival rides, a craft show, beer garden, the annual Elburn Days parade, truck and tractor pulls, Bingo, a pie-baking contest, mud volleyball, a community stage and more.
Jennie Spriet of Carpentersville said she has come nearly half a dozen times to Elburn Days over the years and that truck pulls and carnival rides have topped the list of things to do.
“We also have to eat our way through the park – actually, that might be first,” Spriet said. “We keep coming back for the truck pulls but this is close to us and we like that everything is open.”
Officials said the event was expected to draw upwards of 15,000 people during its three-day run.
“We’re the largest Lions Club in the state and the 12th largest in the country,” said Stacy Groesch, event coordinator. “We’ve been doing this for over 90 years including a drive-thru during COVID. Our attendance seems to go up slightly every year. It’s a homecoming for people who still have family here and a way to get the community together.”
Groesch said the event is a tradition in Elburn.
“People see friends and neighbors and when the third weekend of the month comes they just know Elburn Days is on because it’s always been at the same time,” she said. “People had chairs out for the parade on Friday (two) days early. There are different things offered each day and people make more than one visit.”
Groesch said this was her sixth year working as coordinator in addition to being a volunteer for 12 years and over that time she has been “struck by the community and everyone knowing each other.”
“Even the local businesses look forward to it and we have a lot of good sponsors. As hokey as it sounds, it’s just a good old community, social event,” she said.
Jennie Spriet’s aunt Bobbi Colligan of Geneva said she’d take a pass on the carnival rides but that she “feels the event brings people together.”
Jenna Binder of Bartlett agreed with Colligan and like Spriet said she came for the tractor pull.
“We have family in the area who live in Elburn and they invited us out,” she said. “We’ve come once before and we’re back for the kids’ rides and the tractor pull and food and drinks. If the weather holds we’re going to make a day of it.”
Animals are always a part of Elburn Days, including activities with 4-H groups.
Miranda Schramer of Maple Park came with some sheep that were going to be entered in a show at the fest. She said this was her third visit to Elburn Days.
“With the sheep, you’re trying to make them look their best and we have a black sheep Pwang that’s unique. The way he’s built, there’s not many sheep like this,” she said. “When you show the sheep, the judge just kind of looks at them and you’re trying your best to make them look their best. I have a lot of fun coming out and doing this. We’ve been to seven shows already. We meet a lot of friends and a lot of interesting people too and it’s just a lot of fun to come and do.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
