PrairieFest in Oswego is a long-standing tradition that organizers say dads come to rely on when Father’s Day weekend rolls around.
“This is our 35th year, and while fathers may have other choices as to what to do on their day, they know there is always a lot for the family to do here together as well making sure that our food lineup is as good as anything they’d make and they don’t have to clean up,” said Kristie Vest, director of recreation for the Oswegoland Park District.
This year’s event at PrairieFest Park, 91 Plank Road in Oswego, opened on Thursday and runs through Sunday.
Vest said that usually over the event’s four-day span, “about 80,000 people come to the fest” which is put on by the Oswegoland Park District along with support from organizations in the area “that allow us to offer free admission, free parking and free concerts.”
Pony rides and a petting zoo, carnival rides, laser tag and an Expo Village, as well as plenty of food and musical entertainment, are once again a part of the annual festival. The popular Main Street parade is also back at the fest, and set to begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
“The biggest parade that Oswego hosts during the year is Father’s Day and I think that dads know that their day has that element of celebration here in Oswego,” Vest said. “We definitely try to lean in to celebrating fathers on that day and feedback we’ve gotten is that dads feel it’s a special day for them.”
Vest said the most significant new item this year was a nod to the recent insect invasion.
“We have the Great PrairieFest Cicada Shell Diorama Contest,” she said. “A lot of people built them as kids. People take the shells and make them as main characters in their diorama. We’re going to have an art gallery where everyone can show what they were able to do with their shells.”
Vest also noted that the annual event “is definitely a homecoming each year” adding that “there are a lot of people who grew up with PrairieFest being a part of their lives.”
“This event is a part of many families’ traditions and so they continue it,” she said. “We have people that come back because this is what they know for Father’s Day weekend and for those living away it’s a way to connect with old friends. And because we have no admission fees there are those that like to come for the entire weekend. It really is the hub of the community over Father’s Day weekend.”
Saturday’s late-morning crowd enjoyed bright sunshine and a welcome breeze as carnival rides and food vendors began to get things going.
Tabby Kopp of Montgomery and her family came again to the festival, noting that they have attended “many times.”
“We’re always here for the parade on Sunday and the food, the rides, the entertainment, all of it,” she said. “We’re frequent flyers, usually here for three days. We usually do the smaller things like the petting zoo and face paintings on Friday and Saturday we come for the rides. I’d love to leave the kids home sometime with a sitter and come back for the music.”
Tabby’s husband John Kopp said he was into some food and drink items at the festival.
“I like the lemon shake-ups, they’re great,” he said. “I get to see some of the new vendors and things that come in every now and then as well as the kids’ faces when they are riding the rides and things like that. This has definitely gotten bigger over the years and it’s definitely a good time for the kids to get out as this is the start of summer and it’s close to home.”
Kaitlyn Bavol, 13, of Aurora performed as a member of the A Step Above Dance Company at the event and said she has participated in PrairieFest for a number of years.
“This is my third or fourth year and it’s really fun,” she said on Saturday. “I did one dance routine and a lot of our parents were here. We have 49 people in the group and we started working on routines last August. It’s fun being with my friends and it’s so nice out.”
Kristin Reed of Oswego admitted this was the first time she and her family were attending the fest despite living in town for seven years.
“We saw this on our neighborhood Facebook page and now we have a daughter and this seemed kid-friendly and she’s old enough to come,” Reed said.
Rena Bailey, 23, of Naperville said she was moving back to Oswego where she grew up and said “I remember coming here all throughout middle school and high school.”
“I would always go on the Fireball which is one of the rides that goes in a big circle,” she said on Saturday. “That and the fresh lemonade stand they have – those are go-to things. My agenda today is to make sure my niece and nephew have fun. They’re 2 and 4 and it’s their first time here.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
