Summer in Elgin wrapped up last weekend with a Candyland-themed bash that culminated with a light show featuring 300 drones and brought nearly 8,000 out to Festival Park.
The End of Summer Bash was another hit in a months-long series of events meant to lure residents and out-of-towners to the city on the Fox River, the highlight of which is always the Fourth of July parade and evening concerts/fireworks display, which combined drew about 25,000 people.
“This summer’s events have been very successful and well attended,” said Amanda Harris, director of cultural arts and special events. While rain led to a few concerts being canceled, she said, “(Attendance has been) great overall, despite the unpredictability of the weather.”
Among those attending the End of Summer Bash were 6-year-old best friends Alice Hanson and Amelia Kendall, both of Batavia, who were excited to see the Taylor Swift tribute band, Lover, one of the acts to take the stage Saturday night.
“Taylor Swift is the best,” said Alice, who planned to do cartwheels when her favorite song, “Look What You Made Me Do,” was performed.
That would have fit in perfectly among the giant gumdrops, candy canes and gingerbread houses that filled the park space.
Adding fuel to Alice’s planned activities was cotton candy purchased from a nearby food truck.
“It was huge,” she said of the sweet treat.
Amelia’s mom confirmed that assessment. “It was bigger than their heads,” Chrissie Kendall said.
It was the first time she and Alice’s mom, Kim, had attended an event in Elgin. The Candyland props were especially impresssive, they said.
That was the goal, Harris said. “People had a great time, with the overall sentiment being that it gets better every year,” she said.
While younger children were attracted by the bounce houses, life-sized games and Candyland areas like Gumdrop Pass, there were many families with older kids who came out for the music, to play a little LED mini golf and, of course, to see the grand finale light displays, she said.
“Everyone loved the drone show,” Harris said.
The city has made a commitment to arts, culture and entertainment as a means of not only providing fun for residents but establish Elgin as a place for festivals. They have added more staff, more funding and more community group partnerships to co-sponsor events.
In addition to Saturday’s Bash and the Fourth of July events, among the other activites on the summer docket were the Elgin Pride Parade, a Juneteenth celebration and the Michelada Festival as well as a full slate of movies and concerts in the park.
Because residents love the concerts and movies so much, they not only added more of them, they skewed some of the movies toward adults, Harris said.
Up next is La Fiesta de Elgin on Sept. 13-14 at Festival Park, featuring a car caravan with Mexican flags, cultural performances, live music, food vendors, retail vendors, and large props, includng a replica of the Angel of Independence, also known as el Monumento a la Independencia.
“Planning is well underway, and we are gearing up for two days of amazing programming,” Harris said.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
