Plainfield Fest to Heat Up Downtown Plainfield in July

PLAINFIELD, Illinois — Tired of the cold and ready for spring? The Plainfield Riverfront Foundation is already looking ahead to summer, highlighted by Plainfield Fest in July. The Plainfield Riverfront Foundation is pleased to announce the details for Plainfield Fest 2013, which will be held Friday, July 19; Saturday, July 20; and Sunday, July 21, 2013, in downtown Plainfield, sponsored in part by Heartland Bank and First Midwest Bank.

The entertainment lineup for this year is set, and opportunities are available for sponsors, food vendors, and craft vendors, as well as businesses and civic groups to exhibit. Plainfield Fest offers something for everyone with music and activities for all ages and interests. Plainfield Fest is the largest community event held in Plainfield, attracting nearly 15,000 people for the weekend’s activities.

Plainfield Fest kicks off on Friday afternoon with the midway opening at 4 pm for carnival rides and food vendors. The live music begins at 6 pm with Kashmir, the Led Zeppelin tribute band, followed by Spoken Four at 9 pm. The midway closes at 11 pm with the music and beer tent closing at midnight.

On Saturday, the midway is open from 11 am to 11 pm. Lockport Street will be lined with a variety of businesses and civic organizations exhibiting. This year’s fest will also include a craft show in the former Fire Station. Saturday’s entertainment stage will give way to local talent in the morning, followed by Plainfield-based band One Twenty West at 3:30 pm, up and coming band Walsher Clemons at 5:30 pm, classic rock cover band the Karen Hart Band at 7:30 pm, and headlined by the Trippin Billies, the acclaimed Dave Matthews Band tribute band, at 9:30 pm. The music and beer tent again close at midnight.

Sunday will see the return of the popular Bags and Baseball theme in the beer tent. Plainfield Fest will host Plainfield’s largest bags tournament, as well as hosting several retired Chicago sports legends for live autographs. The beer tent will be converted into a sports bar so you can catch all the sports activities of the afternoon. Sunday’s fest hours are noon to 6 pm.

Since 2011, Plainfield Fest has been hosted by the Plainfield Riverfront Foundation. Proceeds generated by the event are dedicated to developing the Plainfield Riverfront into a regional recreational, cultural, environmental and economic asset for the Plainfield community. To learn more about Plainfield Fest, including obtaining sponsor and vendor applications or to sign up as a volunteer, visit plainfieldfest.org. For more information about the Plainfield Riverfront Foundation, visit plainfieldriverfront.org.

The Plainfield Riverfront Foundation is seeking the services of a qualified tree removal company or companies to perform tree clearing/tree removal work on the Plainfield Riverfront property in the Winter/Spring of 2013. Download the Request for Proposals/Solicitation of Interest for additional information. For more information, call (815) 609-6139 or e-mail info@plainfieldriverfront.org.

Sunday’s Ride for the River has been cancelled due to the forecast for inclement weather and the potential for severe storms. In the interest of rider safety, we will not be holding the event tomorrow.

In addition, due to schedule conflicts for our volunteers and support staff, we are unable to offer a rain date next weekend. All registration fees will be refunded within the next 7-10 days. No action is needed on your part to request a refund. You may contact us by e-mail or phone at (815) 439-2824.

Thank you for your interest in our inaugural “Ride for the River”. We thank you for your support of the Plainfield Riverfront Foundation and hope to see you at one of our events in the near future.

The Plainfield Riverfront Foundation is organizing its first-ever “Ride for the River” – a planned, 30-mile, round trip bicycle ride from downtown Plainfield to Plattville and back. This will be an opportunity for cyclists of all ages and abilities to enjoy the scenic rural country roads of Kendall County while supporting the Plainfield Riverfront Foundation. “Ride for the River” is sponsored in part by Hometown Fitness and the Greater Joliet Area YMCA.

The cost to register is $20 per person or $40 per family (2 or more people). Registration includes refreshments and services at the turn-around point, as well as a support wagon throughout the duration of the ride in the event of an emergency or if assistance is needed.

The event is scheduled to begin at 12 pm (noon) on Sunday, October 14th at Plainfield Village Hall (click to view map for location). Prior to the start of the ride, Sumbaum Cycle of Joliet will be on-site to perform bike safety checks and offer equipment for puchase for those who may need last-minute items to help make the ride a safe and enjoyable experience. The Y is donating water and refreshments for the turn-around point in Plattville. And Hometown Fitness is offering free, introductory memberships to the first number of people who register for the event.

Click here to view the registration form, event guidelines, and proposed route, and to add the event to your calendar.

State and local elected officials joined Village staff and members of the Plainfield Riverfront Foundation in celebrating the ground-breaking of the start of construction on the long-anticipated pedestrian bridge adjacent to Lockport Street. This important safety enhancement will connect the Riverfront property and the area west of the river, including Village Hall, Settlers’ Park, the PACE Park N Ride, and neighborhoods to the west with the Village’s core downtown area east of the DuPage River. The event also provided an opportunity for officials and the public to visit the newly named Riverfront Center building at 24321 W. Lockport Street and witness the volunteer enhancements that have been made to the Riverfront property in recent months.