2015 Windmill City Festival Provides Fun for All July 9-12
Windmill City Festival has become a tried-and-true tradition for many local families. Held in the heart of downtown Batavia at the beautiful Riverwalk, the festival features countless activities over the course of three and a half days. Whether you visit the carnival, compete in a 5k, participate in the pet parade or dive in to an ice cream eating contest, every member of the family is sure to find a new favorite activity! This year’s festival will be held Thursday, July 9 through Sunday, July 12.
Admission is free.
Mark your calendar and be sure to drop by the downtown area to enjoy Batavia’s biggest event of the summer! The Windmill City Festival committee includes representatives from the Batavia Park District, Batavia Chamber of Commerce and the City of Batavia.
New this year
The popular band “7th Heaven” will take the main stage by storm on Friday from 9 to 11 p.m. The band has been heard on more than seven radio stations in Chicago and has been an entertainment staple for more than 30 years.
The Craft Show has been expanded to two days! Browse a wide variety of vendors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 11, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 12.
The Batavia Senior Citizens Club will host “Game Time” on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. under the main tent. Try your luck at Chickenfoot Dominoes, Rummikub, Phase 10 or Skip-bo.
Unique Offerings
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! A 100-foot gutter will house hundreds of scoops of ice cream for the Ice Cream Eating Contest at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 12. Participants will be divided into age categories and will compete against other ice cream enthusiasts to see who can finish their scoops the fastest. No hands allowed! The contest is sponsored by Foltos Tonsorial Parlor and the Batavia Creamery.
Tee one up at this year’s Golf Challenge. Ages 10 and up can take a shot at chipping a hole-in-one on a floating green in the Depot Pond. The cost is $5 for five balls. Hours are 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 11, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 12.
Favorite Traditions
The Batavia Mother’s Club will once again host the adorable Diaper Derby at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 11, near the Peg Bond Center. Participants ages 6-15 months will compete in this exciting “crawling race” to win fun prizes. Register by the Main Stage beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Bring the family pet to their very own parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 11. Pet Parade participants can register from 9:15 to 9:50 a.m. near the main stage. Prizes will be awarded in several categories, including Best Trick, Most Unusual Pet, Best Costume and Best Kisser. The first 50 pets will receive a complimentary goodie bag, courtesy of local sponsors. Anderson Animal Shelter will be conducting an adoption event on site, weather pending.
Runners can tackle the Fox River Trail at 7 p.m. Friday, July 10, during the Windmill Whirl 5K Run. The course covers some of the most spectacular scenery of the Fox River Valley. Registration is $25 per runner before July 8 or $30 on race day. Additional information and a registration link can be found at signmeup.com.
Fun for Adults
There is no reason why adults should feel left out of the loop at this year’s festival! There is a variety of offerings for the big kid in you, including a bags tournament, live bands and an adult-division in the ice cream eating contest! Grab a partner and “Toss for a Cause” in the Batavia Parks Foundation’s annual bags tournament at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 11. Cash prizes will go to the top two teams. After the bags tournament be sure to stop by the food booths and the beer garden.
For more information, including a full schedule of events, parking information, or to learn how to volunteer for the event, please visit www.windmillcityfest.org.
Windmill City Festival 2015 Schedule
SOURCE: www.windmillcityfest.org
It will blow you away!
Free admission
Organized by: Batavia Park District, Batavia Chamber of Commerce, Batavia Depot Museum, and City of Batavia
THURSDAY, JULY 9
| 6:00 – 8:00 pm | Batavia Chamber Mixer – Join us as we kick off the 2015 Windmill City Festival! Mix & mingle with your fellow Chamber members, then stay for Hillbilly Rockstarz! Location: Batavia Riverwalk For more information, visit bataviachamber.org |
|---|---|
| 6:00 – 9:00 pm | Carnival |
| 6:00 – 9:00 pm | Beer Garden Open |
| 7:00 – 10:00 pm | Hillbilly Rockstarz – Chicago’s very own country super group, they specialize in covering the latest hits in country music including some of everyone’s classic favorites. This band is always true to the original recording, so they always gotcha covered. Every show is a guaranteed good time…Hillbilly style! Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Johnny Cash, Kenny Chesney, Band Perry, Sara Evans, Billy Currington, Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Big & Rich….these are just a few of the artists’ songs that you will hear! |
FRIDAY, JULY 10
| 4:00 – 10:00 pm | Carnival |
|---|---|
| 5:00 – 11:00 pm | Food Booths Open |
| 5:00 – 11:00 pm | Beer Garden Open |
| 5:00 pm | Cheerleading Demo – BHS Bulldog Cheer Camp Grades K-8 |
| 6:00 – 8:00 pm | Gallery – Five piece Rock & Roll band out of Geneva, Illinois. The band formed in 2006 and they play a wide variety of classic rock songs, primarily from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, covering music by AC/DC, Cheap Trick, Thin Lizzy, Jethro Tull, Foreigner, Joe Satriani, The Who, Poison, Molly Hatchet, Bad Company, Kiss, Van Halen and more. Their goal is to provide a classic rock experience unlike any other in the area. |
| 7:00 pm | Windmill Whirl – Grab your trail running shoes for a new experience and dash off onto this new trail route as we move into the sun setting for the day. Awards will be given to the 3 overall males and females in each age division. Registrations processed before June 22nd are guaranteed a shirt, and the first one hundred participants registered will receive a sports bag. The price is $25 for those registered by July 8th and $30 the day of the race. Children 8 and under receive a $10.00 discount. Walkers are allowed and encouraged! We request that walkers start at the back of the start line and understand awards will start with the last “runner” in. This is a family friendly event. However, strollers, bikes and dogs are not allowed for safety purposes. On site registration will take place on the South Riverwalk Plaza at the south end of the Government Center or register online. Due to chip timing, no registration will be taken after 6:30 PM. Registration after July 8th is only available in person with cash or check. Results and medals will be administered after the last runner returns or no later than 8:00 PM. Pre-registration bib pickup is available from 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM by the registration table. Shirt/packet pickup will be provided AFTER racers finish. Please note there will be no personal item or bag check for this race. Water and light snacks will be provided for runners too. We look forward to having you with us!Register for the Windmill Whirl |
| 9:00 – 11:00 pm | 7th Heaven – The band has been heard on over 7 radio stations in Chicagoland with their hits “Stoplight”, “Better This Way” and “Sing”. Also known for the famous “30 Songs in 30 Minutes” medley of songs from the 70’s and 80’s, 7th heaven has been an entertainment staple for 30 years. Playing over 250 shows a year, with an average of 100 outdoor events, 7th heaven has earned the right to say “We’ve seen a million faces and rocked them all!” |
SATURDAY, JULY 11
| 9:00 am – 4:00 pm | Craft Show and Flea Market – Enjoy a day of outdoor shopping as you browse through more than 30 vendor booths. Location: North of Peg Bond Center |
|---|---|
| 9:30 – 11:30 am | Touch a Truck – Children of all ages will have a chance to explore various vehicles. |
| 10:00 am | Pet Parade – Invite your furry, or not-so furry friend to this unique parade! The first 50 registered participants will receive a complimentary “doggie bag” to take home. Interested participants must register at the main stage from 9:15 – 9:50 am. |
| 10:00 am – 12 noon | BSCC Game Time – Come on down and try out some games! Chickenfoot Dominoes, Rummikub, Phase 10, Skip-bo are just a few of the games to try! Location: Main Tent |
| 11:00 am – 11:00 pm | Food Booths Open |
| Noon – 11:00 pm | Carnival – Purchase a wristband for $20 and enjoy unlimited rides from 12 – 4 pm! |
| Noon – 11:00 pm | Beer Garden Open |
| Noon – 2:30 pm | Park District Demonstrations – Main Stage Event.
|
| 1:00 – 8:00 pm | Golf Challenge – Step right up and give it your best shot! Ages 10 and up can try to chip a hole-in-one on a floating green in the Depot Pond. Get 5 balls for $5! |
| 3:00 pm | Diaper Derby – Enter your little one in this exciting “crawling race” for babies 6 – 15 months. Participants and their enthusiastic supporters need to register at the Main Stage between 2:30 -2:45pm. Sponsored by the Batavia Mother’s Club |
| 3:00 – 5:00 pm | Live Band Karaoke – Anyone who remembers rocking out into their mom’s microphone/hairbrush in front of the bathroom mirror when they were little knows a thing or two about working hard on their stage presence in private. Now that you’re all grown up, it’s time to take your passions out in to the open. Live band karaoke gives you the opportunity to perform like a true rockstar-with a live, energetic band behind you to back you up. Check out Live Band Karoke and rock on. Location: Main Stage |
| 5:00 – 8:00 pm | Strolling Entertainer – Jason Kollum will entertain the crowds with his juggling talents while strolling on stilts! |
| 6:00 pm | Bags Tournament – The Batavia Parks Foundation is hosting a “Toss for a Cause” bags tournament for participants 14 years and older on Saturday, July 11 at 6:00 pm during Windmill City Festival. Two-person teams will play a minimum of three games and cash prizes will go to the top two teams. Register by calling 630-879-5235. |
| 6:00 – 8:00 pm | Midwest Dueling Pianos – The hilarious comedy and wildly entertaining music of Midwest Dueling Pianos, is a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience. You will be singing, cheering, dancing, and laughing so hard you’ll be doubled over gasping for breath. It’s an experience unlike any other that will leave you amazed and begging for more. |
| 9:00 – 11:00 pm | Arra – One of the best and largest drawing classic rock cover bands in the Chicagoland area for the past 2 decades. Performing the biggest hits by the biggest bands of all times with precision and excellence is the secret to their success. Their unparalleled vocal harmonies and incredible musicianship is also what has brought them to being one of the most sought after club and festival bands in the Chicago area markets. Arra has performed with some of the biggest bands and performers of all time. Kansas, 38 Special, Survivor, Rare Earth, The Ides of March, Steppenwolf, Paul Rodgers from Bad Company and Dennis DeYoung from Styx are just a few of the National acts that Arra has shared the stage with throughout the years. Arra was recently voted best classic rock band (3) years in a row in a major local music publication. |
SUNDAY, JULY 12
| 11 am – 5:00 pm | Craft Show and Flea Market – Enjoy a day of outdoor shopping as you browse through more than 30 vendor booths. Location: North of Peg Bond Center |
|---|---|
| Noon – 6:00 pm | Food Booths Open |
| Noon – 6:00 pm | Beer Garden Open |
| Noon – 5:00 pm | Carnival – Purchase a wristband for $20 and enjoy unlimited rides from 12 – 4 pm! |
| Noon – 5:00 pm | Golf Challenge – Step right up and give it your best shot! Ages 10 and up can try to chip a hole-in-one on a floating green in the Depot Pond. Get 5 balls for $5! |
| 1:00 – 3:00 pm | Pirates Over 40 – Since 1999 “Pirates Over 40” have been entertaining audiences throughout the Midwest with fun and energetic renditions of your tropical favorites including Jimmy Buffett, punctuated with an eclectic mix of classic rock and oldies – all performed in our own unique tropical flavored style. |
| 2:00 pm | Ice Cream Eating Contest – A 100 foot gutter will house hundreds of ice cream scoops for participants to devour. Register near the Main Stage between 1:15 – 1:45 pm. Presented by Foltos Tonsorial Parlor and Batavia Creamery. |
| 3:00 pm | Fire Hose Challenge – Compete in this exciting challenge to send a ball across the opposing team’s line using fire hoses! Participants must be at least 5 years old to participate. |
| 4:00 – 6:00 pm | Back Country Roads – Back Country Roads, aka “BCR” is one of the Midwest’s freshest country bands! Comprised of seven musicians, this band brings the big sounds of Nashville home to the Midwest! Performing throughout the Midwest since 2009, BCR’s contemporary sound and dynamic stage shows have earned them a loyal following and several opening slots for national acts such as Phil Vassar, David Lee Murphy, Darryl Worley, Neal McCoy, Easton Corbin, Steel Magnolia and Danny Gokey. |
