Willow Fest drew big crowds over four days, even with some rain, Mayor Melissa Neddermeyer said Sunday.
“I think it’s fantastic. We’re happy that so many people came out to support it,” Neddermeyer said. “We didn’t have the most ideal weather some of the days, but people still came out.”
The festival is an all-hands-on-deck effort each year, with many village employees volunteering to keep it running smoothly.
“It’s really a team effort,” Neddermeyer said of the festival that started Thursday.
One draw is the craft show, which featured vendors from around the city and suburbs. Shanna Metzger of Oak Lawn brought her children Sunday afternoon.
“We saw this online and decided to get out of the house,” Metzger, 48, said.
She didn’t mind the warm, humid weather for her first visit to Willow Fest. While browsing craft booths, Metzger stopped at All American Floral Design, a Lombard-based business that has been a regular at the festival.
“I’ve been here most every year. Not last year because of the weather,” owner Harry Sawyer, 77, said.
Sawyer started designing floral arrangements at 13 and made it his full-time work after retiring from the governor’s office. He now does 18 shows a year.
Sales were “slow but steady” Sunday, he said.
Erika Martin, 44, of Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, sold crocheted items at Hooked on Kika, including mystery boxes with unknown contents. One of Metzger’s children found a crocheted ice cream cone inside.
Music drew crowds throughout the festival. Live bands played Thursday through Sunday, including a blues fest presented by the Windy City Blues Society on Saturday and Sunday.
Bill Blair, 76, drove from Hoffman Estates to catch the music. Sitting beneath a large black golf umbrella Sunday afternoon, he watched guitarist Marty “Big Dog” Mercer around 3:45 p.m.
“This is actually my first time here. I think it’s terrific. I love events like this and I love the music,” Blair said. “I used to go downtown all the time and listen to all the great blues players. It’s nice to see a young group of kids playing the blues.”
Beer sales were brisk at $5 per cup — a bargain for the Chicago area. Various organizations staffed the beer tent; the Willow Springs Lioness/Lions Club was there Sunday afternoon.
Food stands south of the stage offered pizza, hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, and other options to accompany the drinks.
Damian Biekarczyk cooked Polish sausage in the hot sun on an even hotter grill for Tradycja Police Fusion Cuisine, an Orland Park restaurant.
The cover band Freebyrd, featuring three lead guitars like Lynyrd Skynyrd, played later in the day. Journey 2 Jovi took the stage last before the fireworks display, which Village Administrator Ryan Grace called “the best show in the suburbs.”
Willow Fest is scheduled to return next August.
