New Village Center, Amphitheater to Host RomeoFest Aug. 4-7

RomeoFest 2011 is about to rock the village’s new amphitheater.   

For the first time, the new grounds will host the annual village festival’s food vendors, musicians, games and entertainment.

Carnival rides and carnival games will stay in their old, familiar location, the nearby Recreation Center grounds at 900 W. Romeo Road. The municipal complex is located at 1050 W. Romeo Road.

The festival starts Thursday, Aug. 4 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 7.

“We’ll use the amphitheater for the main stage,” said Kelly Rajzer, Romeoville’s director of parks and recreation.

Bands will take the stage each evening. That’s when the area behind the Village Hall will become the beverage and entertainment area.

During the day and early evening, there will be gymnastics, dance and karate demonstrations in the outdoor theater. At 9:30 a.m. Sunday, the amphitheater will be the site of a community worship service.

Games at this year’s RomeoFest will include bingo, tennis, softball and an adult bean bag tournament. There will be a craft show, a magic show, face painting, and a show featuring cold-blooded creatures.

Country band Chasin’ Mason will be featured from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday. From 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Infinity, a Journey tribute band, will perform. Saturday night’s entertainment will feature Run 4 Covers from 5 to 7 p.m., and Sixteen Candles, a band that specializes in ‘80s music, from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. The weekend wraps up with a show from Seventh Heaven from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday. The show will be capped by a 9:15 p.m. fireworks display.

Unlike in years past, there will be an admission fee for the carnival this year. There is no fee, however, to enter the entertainment and beverage area, organizers said.

After 5 p.m., carnival admission fees will be $5 per person, for anyone 11 years old and older, said Marissa Cardoni, special events coordinator. There are a few exceptions. Parents accompanied by a child under age 11 will get in free, she said. And anyone with a Mega Pass may enter for free.

The Mega Pass, Cardoni said, also gives the holder unlimited rides. Mega Passes are $40 each if purchased in advance at the Recreation Center. Passes will be available there through Aug. 3. Festival-goers may purchase Mega Passes on Aug. 4 at the carnival for $55 per pass, she said. Passes won’t be available after Aug. 4. Mega Pass sales are cash only, she said.

Cardoni said RomeoFest will offer 11 food vendors offering typical summer festival fare — corn dogs, ice cream, pizza and snow cones.

Getting to RomeoFest will be made easier by a shuttle bus that runs from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday and travels between the festival grounds and seven locations scattered throughout town.

“We have really limited parking. That’s why we offer a shuttle bus,” Cardoni said.

Cardoni and Rajzer said the festival was planned with community in mind.

“It’s for all ages,” said Cardoni. “There’s something for everybody to do.”

“We anticipate a great crowd,” said Rajzer. “It’s a family atmosphere.”

For more RomeoFest details, visit http://www.romeoville.org/parks/RecCenter/Brochure/romeofest.pdf.