The 2024 Harwood Heights Summer Fest and Carnival celebrated 77 years of the village’s history as a municipality and community.
The celebration launching at Saint Monica and Rosalie Roman Catholic Parish, 6750 W. Montrose Ave., was so popular that Harwood Heights included a carnival over four days and this year, added the Summer Fest portion all four days to match it in the church’s backyard, starting Thursday, Aug 1.
In previous years, Summer Fest was held outdoors on the grounds of Union Ridge School District 86 in Harwood Heights with large inflatables for children to jump on plus lawn games.
Harwood Heights Mayor Arlene Jezierny received overwhelming positive feedback about the newer event church venue. It was Jezierny’s idea to include a carnival for the 75th anniversary two years ago.
For 2024, Jezierny called the turnout, “banner attendance” over the festival’s four days.
For those welcomed from the village and beyond, “They’re recognizing Harwood Heights as a great community where people can get together and have a nice time and enjoy the summer,” Jezierny said on Friday night.
What was different this year included increased police presence with rooftop officers seen using binoculars and keeping rifles close. A white tent on a church social hall roof was visible. The vantage point helped officers scan the event’s fenced perimeter and security included a police-monitored bag check at the main entrance.
“We’re throwing a festival, we want everyone to feel like they can come here and feel safe,” Harwood Heights Chief of Police John DeVries said on Friday evening.
“I have two officers up on the roof right now,” DeVries said, adding reasons for roof security included, “If God forbid, we lost a child, we can find them, and two, to keep everybody safe, we can see them from an elevation that gives us a good vantage point.”
DeVries added, “And thanks to a few of my tactical officers, that was their idea, and we went with it and it’s paid off already.
“Last night (Thursday, Aug. 1), we had a lost child, and they were able to find him, so it worked out good,” DeVries said. “I’m telling you, it’s nice.”
On Friday, Aug. 2, patrons and childhood friends Kristie Ottenschot, originally from the Chicago-Harwood Heights vicinity and now of upstate New York, the parent of Rori, 4, and Adrianna Misterka of Clarendon Hills, the parent of Nelia, 2, said both as parents were comfortable seeing the roof police presence.
“We just want people to feel safe and have fun,” Misterka said.
The four days included the carnival on the church parking lot and music on stage with food offerings in the back of the church. Bingo was a popular indoor church hall amenity.
Dave and Christa Winikates of Park Ridge were seen enjoying the carnival with children Logan, 8, a rising third-grader, Dylan, 9, a rising fifth-grader and Drew, 4.
Dylan and Logan took a ride on the Ferris wheel, and while it was too far to try to see their residence in Park Ridge from Harwood Heights, the boys made sure to communicate and text their mother Christa who was below to look up while the two sons waved.
“It was very sweet,” Christa Winikates said of being texted to look up at Dylan and Logan, resulting in a cell phone photo.
“It’s very important for family to be close.”
Christa Winikates did notice the rifle police presence on the church roof.
“It’s just like the reality of the situation,” the boys’ mother said, who was also told police were able to quickly find a lost child during the Thursday festival opener.
“I mean it’s great,” Christa Winikates said. “They have a good view.”
