Lyons Fest offers five nights of music over holiday weekend
By Steve Metsch
Lyons Fest proved so popular last year, the village has decided to add a day and night.
This year’s Lyons Fest will be spread over five days and nights at Veterans Park, 4100 S. Lawndale Ave., just south of Ogden Avenue.
The event kicks off on Friday, June 30, and runs through the Fourth of July on Tuesday.
The village was “looking for a nice mix of entertainers,” said Ted Tala, parks and recreation director.
“Some of these guys are known entities. The Redmonds, the Jolly Ringwalds. We’ve had Zorila. They impressed us at our parade a few years ago.
“We’ve got some country. We’ve got some Latin. We’ve got ‘80s, ‘90s and to top it all off, one of the bands I’ve seen on multiple occasions is The Boy Band Night,” he said.
The Boy Band Night will perform from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday with fireworks blasting high overhead. It promises to be memorable, he said.
“They put on a production like I’ve never seen before. They’re into it. They get the crowd involved. I’ve seen them at The House of Blues, I’ve seen them at Joe’s Live. They put on a show. They became available and we jumped on them. They’re our headlining act,” Tala said.
Visitors will see a larger stage this year.
“Last year, we had a 20 (foot) by 20 (foot) stage. This year, we’re going 32 by 24. A larger stage. Whole different setup with speakers on risers. Big lights for everyone. It’s going to be big production. It’s going to be awesome,” Tala said.
Here’s the musical lineup:
Friday
Jolly Ringwalds, (pop and rock), 6 to 8 p.m.
The Redmonds, (pop and rock), 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Saturday
Red, White & Blues featuring various blues artists), 4 to 8:30 p.m.
Carolyn Wonderland (blues), 9 to 10:30 p.m.
Sunday
Zorila, (current rock and alternative music), 6 to 8 p.m.
Breakfast Club, (‘80s rock), 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Monday
Fuze, (Latin music), 6 to 8 p.m.
Run Forrest Run, (‘80s and ‘90s rock), 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Fourth of July
Shades of Country, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Stache, (rock), 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The Boy Band Night, 8 to 10:30 p.m.
Admission is free. Food and beverages will be sold. It’s a good idea to bring chairs and/or blankets to sit on.
As always, there will be fireworks at dusk on the Fourth of July.
A carnival will be open from 4 to 11 p.m. each evening.
And, the village’s annual Fourth of July Parade will kick off at 1 p.m. heading north on Joliet Avenue from 46th Street.
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