You’ve got to love the park district. With sincere regret the park board cancelled this summer’s 4th of July fireworks. Sure people can blame it on costs but the real culprit was legitimate worries over knuckleheads and thugs – homegrown and neighbors.
But at the time, park officials said they’d be back with some other large scale family celebration and so here comes Fall Fest.
Saturday, Sept. 7. All day at the park. It starts at 8 a.m. with a kids’ triathalon and ends at 10:30 p.m. when a band named Soda closes its last set. In between there is food and drinks (this being 2013, there will be 20 craft beers), carnival games and a bags tournament.
Yes, officials are still worried over security but in consultation with the cops, there will be new tactics in place to control the crowd. Namely the entire park will be enclosed with snow fencing and there will be one point to enter and exit the event. This is an approach often implemented with success at city and suburban street festivals.
Forest Park has largely been defined over the years by its fests and fun. They speak to the sense of family and community in the village, they announce the town as a destination for visitors. Kudos to the park district for not giving up or giving in and experimenting with Fall Fest.
