The Village of Montgomery will host the 38th Montgomery Fest from Friday to Sunday, August 18-20, 2023.
The Fest will be held in downtown Montgomery along the Fox River in Montgomery Park (301 N. River St.) with three jam-packed days of entertainment, Carnival, food, beer tent, fishing derby, parade, car show, fireworks, and more.
This year, Saturday will feature kid’s entertainment on stage beginning at 9:45 in the morning with the popular Miss Jamie’s Farm sing-a-long show geared towards those aged eight and under, and the Montgomery Police Department will host Chalk with a Cop offering free car seat checks and children’s safety ID kits. Versiti Blood Centers of Aurora will also host a blood drive themed “Montgomery Saves Lives” from 10A-4P at Village Hall.
“We have so many generous businesses and sponsors that help us keep entry to the Fest and all these great activities free. This year, we made a conscious effort to talk about how Montgomery Fest could offer more and make a bigger impact on the community. We know our local hospitals desperately need blood,” says Doug Marecek, Village Trustee and Montgomery Fest Committee Chair.
The Fest offers free shuttle service on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from two locations: Lakewood Creek Elementary School (2301 Lakewood Creek Dr.) and the Blain’s Farm & Fleet Parking Lot (400 US Route 30) for easy transport and drop off to the Fest. Shuttle buses will run every half hour from 5-10P Friday and 11A-10P Saturday and Sunday. Limited parking for the Fest is available on the street and in the Lyon Metal parking lot (421 N. Main St.) just west of the grounds.
Carnival amusement company Windy City Amusements will offer unlimited ride wristbands at times ranging from $30-35 per person based on the time of day and date. The Historic Preservation Commission Car Show is back on Saturday from 11A-5P. After it rained Saturday last year, the committee looks forward to one of the community’s favorite events of the Fest. Car show registration begins at 8A; applications are available online in advance or onsite the day of the event.
A full schedule of events is listed below and updated on the Village’s website, montgomeryil.org.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18
5-10P | Beer Tent, Food Vendors, Free Shuttle to Fest from 2 locations
5-10P | Carnival | Unlimited Wristband offered 5-9P for $35
ON STAGE
- 4:00-5:15P | Who We Are
- 5:30-7:30P | Soul Sacrifice
- 8-10P | Sonora Dinamita
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19
10A-10P | Food Vendors
10A-12P | Chalk with A Cop & Free Car Seat Check
10:30A-6:30P | Miller’s Petting Zoo
11A-5P | Historic Preservation Commission Car Show in Austin Park
11A-10P | Free Shuttle to Fest from 2 locations
11A-10P | Beer Tent
12-10P | Carnival | Unlimited Wristband 12-4P for $30 and 5-9P for $35
ON STAGE
- 9:45A-10:30A | Miss Jamie’s Farm
- 11A-12:30P | Good Clean Fun
- 12:30-1:00P | Fermilab’s Mr. Freeze Science Show
- 1-2:30P | South of Disorder
- 3-5P | Kovac & Company
- 5:30-7:30P | Voyage
- 8-10P | Semple
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20
6A-2P | Carp Fishing Derby
9:30-10:30A | Church in the Park with New Life Montgomery
10A-9P | Food Vendors
11A-9P | Beer Tent
11A-10P | Free Shuttle from 2 Locations
12-1P | Jimmy Jamz Kids Show in front of Village Hall
12-9P | Carnival | Unlimited Wristband 12-4P for $30 and 5-9P for $35
1P | Parade Step-Off from Main & Madison
9P | Fireworks (launched from Austin Park)
ON STAGE
- 11A-12:30P | Flipside
- 2-4P | Vital Signs
- 4:30-6:30P | Planet Groove
- 7-9P | Hi-Infidelity
Unless otherwise noted, all activities occur at Montgomery Park, corner of River and Mill Street. The Montgomery Foundation will host the beer tent amongst the Food Vendors along River Street. ATMs are located onsite near the food vendors and at the Carnival.
