This is the 60th year of the Lake Geneva Venetian Festival. It is a five-day festival of great family entertainment and is capped off on Sunday with a traditional Venetian Style lighted boat parade.
The five-day Festival runs from Wednesday August 17th- Sunday August 21st and takes place at Flat Iron, Library, and Seminary Parks in picturesque downtown Lake Geneva
Venetian festival weekend includes a Craft Fair, Carnival, Water ski show, Traditional festival food and a beer tent featuring live music and on Sunday night the lighted boat parade is followed by the area’s largest fireworks display over Geneva Lake.
Come and check out these Lake Geneva Venetian Festival activities and events:
Carnival - Rides, Games, and Food for Every Age Group!
Entertainment Pavilion - Beer Tent and live music
Art & Craft Fair - Lakefront Craft Fair where all of the products are Homemade!
Baggo Tournament - Saturday starting at 11:30 AM CT
Water Ski Show - Wonder Lake Ski Team Sunday Afternoon at the Riviera Beach
Boat Parade & Fireworks - Venetian Lighted Boat Parade & Fireworks Along the Entire Waterfront on Sunday starting at Dusk.
Credit: Lake Geneva Jaycees
Venetian Festival Schedule
August 17th (Wednesday): 5 PM - Midnight ** Carnival - Wristband Night till 10:30 pm
August 18th (Thursday): 5 PM - Midnight ** Carnival Wristband Night till 10:30 pm
August 19th (Friday): 5 PM - Midnight ** Carnival ends at 11:30 PM
3 - 6 PM: Free Live Music - Terry Byrne - Coming by way of Chicago, Terry Byrne brings Rockin country and blues with an Irish twist.
8PM - Midnight: Paid Live Music ($5 cover) - Too Hype Crew
August 21st (Sunday):
10 AM - 4 PM: Arts and Crafts Fair
Noon - 10:30 PM: Carnival
Noon - Midnight: Beer Tent
Noon - 3 PM: Free Live Music - Rock Central
3 - 6 PM: Free Live Music - Big Al Wetzel Band - If you know Lake Geneva, you know Big Al!
6 PM: Water Ski Show - Wonder Lake Ski Team shows off in front of the Riviera Beach
8 PM - Midnight: Paid Live Music ($5 cover) - Dirty Canteen Another Local Favorite. Dirty Canteen Rock & Rolls through the final night of the festival.
Dusk: Lighted Boat Parade
Immediately Following the Lighted Boat Parade: FIREWORKS!
Final Thoughts and Further Information
Support a good cause as this event brings in money for the Lake Geneva Jaycees.
This is the 60th year of the Lake Geneva Venetian Festival so the fireworks show should be spectacular and fun will be had by all.
Best Restaurants - Chicago River North, Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, and Uptown
Open Table recently published an article on “Chicago Greats” which is an article in a series on restaurants around the country that define their cities. “Chicago Greats” are restaurants who helped shape Chicago’s world-class dining scene.
Included are restaurants from the “Chicago Greats” list in River North, Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, and in Uptown Chicago.
Tanta- by Owner Gastón Acurio - one of Peru’s most famous chefs
Photo: by Rieder
Highlights: Delivers inventive Peruvian food served in a stylish Peru-inspired space. Tanta is known for its pisco sour cocktails too.
Cuisine: Peruvian fare
Address: 118 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: (312) 222-9700
Jaleo- by Chef José Andrés in a light-soaked dining room
Highlights: Open Table describes Jaleo as “a vibrant celebration of Spanish flavors and techniques. Its whimsical approach to tapas offers croquetas de pollo served on a ceramic chicken and paella by the pan in a light-soaked dining room lush with tiled accents.”
Cuisine: Spanish fare and tapas
Address: 500 N Clark St #465, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: (312) 820-7771
Shaw’s Crab House- A Chicago premier Seafood Restaurant
Highlights: Shaw’s is the top seafood destination in Chicago and offers great seafood and an extensive oyster selection. Offers classic fare & sushi in a relaxed space with a vintage vibe.
Cuisine: Seafood and Oyster bar
Address: 21 E Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 527-2722
Chicago Cut Steakhouse- patio overlooking the river & nice wine list
Highlights: Modern steakhouse located downtown alongside the Chicago River. Offers a few dining spots with a view of both the tour boats cruising the river and the lively dining room. Menu includes a full array of classic steakhouse options and a mix of originals too.
Cuisine: Steak and seafood
Address: 300 N La Salle St, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: (312) 329-1800
Gene & Georgetti - Chicago’s oldest steakhouse
Credit: Gene & Georgetti
Highlights: Established in 1941, Gene & Georgetti options include steak, seafood, & Italian specialties. Restaurant is in a traditional setting and atmosphere.
Cuisine: Steak, seafood, and Italian
Address: 500 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: (312) 527-3718
Lincoln Park "Chicago Greats" Restaurants
Boka - stylish, modern setting with a lounge & candlelit back garden patio
Cuisine: American Fare
Address: 1729 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (312) 337-6070
North Pond - offers creative American fare made with local ingredients
Photo by Martha Williams
Highlights: Hidden gem. Open table says “North Pond may be one of the most overlooked restaurants in Chicago.” and that the restaurant location is “tucked inside Lincoln Park, the Arts and Crafts-style structure—formerly a warming shelter for ice skaters—was converted into a restaurant in 1998.”
Cuisine: American Fare
Address: 2610 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (773) 477-5845
Café Ba-Ba-Reeba - serves authentic Spanish fare and Sangria
Credit: Café Ba-Ba-Reeba
Highlights: Chicago's original tapas bar, serving authentic Spanish cuisine
Cuisine: Spanish Tapas
Address: 2024 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (773) 935-5000
Juno Sushi Chicago- ultramodern surroundings
Credit: Juno Sushi
Highlights: Japanese fare & sushi pairs with sake & cocktails in ultramodern surroundings. Open table describes Juno as, “a fan favorite for creative sushi displays” and that it, “has served some of the city’s freshest sashimi since 2013”.
Cuisine: Japanese fare and Sushi
Address: 2638 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (773) 935-2000
Gold Coast "Chicago Greats" Restaurants
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse -Quality steak and memorable desserts
Credit: Gibsons
Highlights: One of the highest grossing independent restaurants in all of Chicago. This is the quality Chicago steakhouse and in a prime location just off the Magnificent Mile. Open Table indicates Gibsons is the first restaurant in the country to have its own USDA certification, Gibsons Prime Angus beef.
Cuisine: Steak and seafood
Address: 1028 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 266-8999
Maple and Ash - Redefining the steakhouse experience
Highlights: This is a sprawling restaurant with velvet dining chairs and soaring ceilings. Has an extensive wine list, where the priciest bottle is $10,000.
Cuisine: Steak and seafood
Address: 8 W Maple St, Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (312) 944-8888
Uptown "Chicago Greats" Restaurant
Demera Restaurant - City’s top destination for Ethiopian food, flavors, and culture
Craft and Microbreweries abound in Chicago. We are blessed with many options of craft and local breweries. This list is compiled from different sources including Karl Klockars book Beer Lover's Chicago. Our list is categorized by different towns.
Chicago Breweries
DryHop Brewery - 3155 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
Goose Island - Multiple Locations
BREWHOUSE - 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
TAPROOM - 1800 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60612
BARREL WAREHOUSE - 603 N Sacramento Blvd, Chicago, IL 60612
Moody Tongue Brewery - 2515 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Whiner Beer Company - 1400 W 46th St, Chicago, IL 60609
Arlington Heights, Libertyville, Linconlnshire Breweries
Arlington Ale House - 111 W Campbell St UNIT 3, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Mickey Finn's Brewery - 345 N Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville, IL 60048
Half Day Brewing Company - 200 Village Green, Lincolnshire IL 60069
Downers Grove, Geneva, St Charles Breweries
Stockholm's Restaurant & Brewery - 306 W State St, Geneva, IL 60134
Penrose Brewing Company - 509 Stevens Street, Geneva, IL 60134
Art History Brewing - 649 West State St., Geneva, IL 60134
D and G Brewing - 303 N 4th St Suite A, St. Charles, IL 60174
Riverlands Brewing Company - 1860 Dean St Unit A, St. Charles, IL 60174
93 Octane Brewery - 1825 Lincoln Hwy, St. Charles, IL 60174
Alter Brewing - 2 locations
12 S. First St • St. Charles, IL 60174
2300 Wisconsin Ave • Downers Grove, IL 60515
Algonquin, Barrington, Elk Grove Village, Itasca, and Roselle Breweries
Church Street Brewing Company
Address: 1480 Industrial Drive Unit C, Itasca, IL 60143
Chicago is blessed with a great variety of micro, Nano, craft, and local breweries. We will continue to add to this list of Chicago craft breweries that call the Chicago area home. If you don't see a brewery on the list you feel should be included please include it in the comments or email us. Thanks!
We heard the news of the Highland Park Independence Day Parade mass shooting. The media reports indicate 6 people have loss their lives in this senseless tragedy. This is such a sad day for our society.
Our prayers and thoughts are with all the folks in Highland Park.
The information we have at this time is that the fireworks for Itasca and Rolling Meadows are canceled.
Media reports indicate the fireworks in the surrounding towns of Highland Park are canceled including Buffalo Grove.
Please take a moment of silence for the families, the injured, and those who lost there lives in Highland Park today. God Bless to all.
4th of July Fireworks
Independence Day (4th of July) 2022 is almost here.
Here are the details and locations for fireworks for the 4th of July for the villages of:
Barrington
Bartlett
Elgin
Elk Grove Village
Glen Ellyn, IL
Hoffman Estates
Itasca
Palatine
Rolling Meadows
Roselle
Schaumburg
Streamwood
Friday July 1st - Barrington, IL
Fireworks will be Friday, July 1 at dusk at Barrington High School.
BARRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
616 W. Main St.
Barrington, IL 60010
Sunday July 3rd
Hoffman Estates, Roselle, Palatine
Hoffman Estates
The Northwest Fourth-Fest fireworks show returned with a state-of-the-art computerized fireworks display last night (July 3rd). Fourth of July Hotline: 847-252-5446
Here is a small video clip of the Hoffman Estates Fireworks show from July 3rd, 2022:
Palatine, IL
Fireworks on Sunday, July 3 - Dusk fireworks show
Part of 65th Anniversary Jaycee’s Hometown Fest (fest runs five days, June 30-July 4)
Address:
Community Park
262 E. Palatine Rd.
Palatine, IL 60067
Roselle, IL
The tradition of fireworks is returning to Roselle again this summer on Sunday, July 3 at Lake Park High School West Campus.
This event, with fun for the entire family includes food trucks from Doctor Dogs, Dairy Queen, Aunt Tina’s Sound Bites, and Kona Ice along Bryn Mawr Ave. starting at 7:30 p.m. and a fireworks display at dusk.
Address:
500 W Bryn Mawr Ave
Roselle, IL 60172
Monday July 4th
Bartlett, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Glen Ellyn, Itasca, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg Boomers, and Streamwood
Bartlett
Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza - Monday, July 4 9:30 p.m. fireworks
Address: Community Park S. Bartlett Rd. Stearns Rd. Bartlett, IL 60103
Elgin
4th of July Celebration - Monday, July 4 9:20 p.m. (following 7 p.m. concert)
Address: Festival Park 132 S. Grove Ave. Elgin, IL 60120
Elk Grove Village
Monday, July 4 Dusk fireworks show (following 8 p.m. concert)
Address: Rotary Green 164 Lions Dr. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Glen Ellyn
Monday, July 4 - Dusk fireworks show
Address: Lake Ellyn Park 645 Lenox Rd. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Itasca
7/4/2022 Update: Due to the Highland Park shootings, The Village of Itasca has canceled its July 4th fireworks, however they do state they will be rescheduled.
Breathtaking fireworks, synchronized to pop music, movie music and patriotic music broadcast on a concert-quality sound system, will begin at 10:00 p.m.
Admission to the event is free. On-site parking is available for a donation of $25 per car.
Address: 300 Park Blvd, Itasca, IL 60143
Rolling Meadows
7/4/2022 Update: The City of Rolling Meadows has canceled its July 4th fireworks. Leaders are discussing whether it will be rescheduled or not.
Monday, July 4 - 9:15 p.m. or dusk fireworks show
Address: Salk Park Community Center 3705 Pheasant Dr. Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Schaumburg Boomers Fireworks
Schaumburg Boomers Independence Day Fireworks Supershow!
Monday July 4th - After the ball game – Ball game starts at 6 PM
Address:
Schaumburg Boomers 1999 Springinsguth Road Schaumburg, IL 60193
Streamwood
Monday, July 4 - 9:15 p.m. fireworks show
Address: Dolphin Park 880 S. Park Blvd. Streamwood, IL 60107
Check out these additional posts for Things to Do and Free Concerts this summer:
Brookfield Zoo near Chicago, IL Photo courtesy of J. Bamberger
Have you ever been to the Brookfield Zoo? If not, you’re missing out! Brookfield Zoo is a fun experience for all! They even have a new exhibit (now through October 30, 2022), “Ice Age Giants.”
Photo courtesy of Brian Bamberger
Ice Age Giants Exhibit at Brookfield Zoo
In this exhibit, you can see all kinds of different animals from the Ice Age. The animals are animatronics, so some make sounds and move their heads and tails. This exhibit is no extra cost to those who are visiting the zoo, and is really cool to check out! My siblings and I loved it.
Photo of Ice Age Giants Exhibit
King Nyani Bronze Gorilla
I should know, my family and I visited the zoo recently, and had lots of fun! Upon entering the zoo we saw a statue of King Nyani the gorilla, which is the largest bronze gorilla sculpture in the world! Pretty cool, huh?
King Nyani - Bronze Gorilla - Brookfield Zoo
Butterflies, Lions, and a Whole Lot More
We also checked out the butterfly exhibit and got to see butterflies of all different kinds, which was really awesome! After checking out the butterfly exhibit, we made our way to see the big cats. We got to see the lions (who were sleeping), the snow leopard, and the sloth bear. Then, we saw the seals and sea lions. After seeing the animals, we checked out the Ice Age Giants. The exhibit was AWESOME! The animatronics were so cool. It was also fascinating to learn about all the animals that lived during the ice age besides the wooly mammoth. It was also neat to learn about what the different animals evolved into, and would be nowadays. After the Ice Age Giants, we headed to the carousel to end our trip.
The Carousel Photo Courtesy J. Bamberger
After the carousel we headed out. We all had such a good time at the zoo, and I would highly recommend visiting if you like animals and being outside!
Ranked by Money Magazine in 2018 as the best place to live in Illinois and in 2017 Money Magazine ranked Schaumburg as the 9th best place to live in the United States. Schaumburg is home to Woodfield Mall and home to the Schaumburg Boomers minor league baseball team.
The village is located in Cook county about 30 miles northwest of Chicago, Illinois.
Schaumburg, Illinois is a great community with a variety of business, residential, and entertainment. It is situated 30 miles northwest of Chicago and has many restaurants, shopping, and entertainment options.
The median income of individuals living in Schaumburg is $45,503 as of 2020.
As of 2020, the Village of Schaumburg had a population of 73,392.
Tom Dailly is the mayor (village president) of Schaumburg and the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center is located at 101 Schaumburg Ct., Schaumburg, IL 60193-1899. Phone: 311 within Schaumburg or 847-895-4500 outside of Schaumburg to contact the Municipal Center.
Fire Headquarters Police Department Fire Station 54 Martin J. Conroy Center 1601 N. Roselle Rd. 1000 W. Schaumburg Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60195 Schaumburg, IL 60194 847-923-6750 Non-emergency # is (847)-882-3586
** New **Schaumburg Family Fun Guide - A guide to family oriented entertainment, parks, dining, and shopping in Schaumburg.
Places to Eat in Schaumburg
Schaumburg has a wide variety of restaurants to choose from. The following list represents the most popular.
Address: 1405 W Schaumburg Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60194
Phone # (847) 285-1866
Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Store
Address: 30 Roselle Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60193
Phone # (847) 534-0544
Dairy Queen – Roselle Road
Address: 520 S Roselle Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60193
Phone # (847) 923-9233
Andy's Frozen Custard
Address: 390 Barrington Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60194
Phone # (872) 260-0100
Things to Do in Schaumburg
Schaumburg has lots to offer including the Woodfield Mall, TopGolf, Schaumburg Boomers baseball, outdoor parks, and entertainment. Here is a list of the interesting things to do and places to visit:
Address: 5N080 Illinois Rte 59, Bartlett, IL 60103
Phone: (630) 483-1827
Schaumburg hosted annual events and fests:
Septemberfest – 2022 labor day weekend at the Atcher Municipal Center grounds; Carnival rides, music, food, and headliner entertainment
Address: 101 Schaumburg Ct, Schaumburg, IL 60193
Phone # (847) 923-3605
Dates and Hours:
Saturday 9/3 10 am - 10 pm CT
Sunday 9/4 10 am - 10 pm (fireworks @ 10 pm)
Monday 9/5 10 am - 9 pm (parade starts @ 10 am)
No parking available on festival grounds, so parking options are:
Our Saviour's Church at 701 E Schaumburg Road - your $6 parking donation helps fund youth program activities, annual mission trip, scholarships and other youth related activities plus Our Saviour’s Church will be open to use the washroom, relax in the AC, and take some free cookies for the walk over to the fest. The church is an 8 - 10 minute walk to the festival.
Schaumburg, Illinois offers many things to do, shops, and attractions to visit. It is a great community of hard working professionals and families. There are a variety of restaurants, homes, and places to see. Visit Schaumburg, Illinois or set up home here - you will be happy you did.
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I am James Bamberger, an experienced long term investor, MBA, PMP, and Certified Scrum Master who enjoys traveling, the outdoors, family, and spending time with my four kids.
You will find Information on leadership, journaling, investing, travel, and the outdoors here.
Post a comment if you don't find the information you are looking for. We (my oldest daughter and I) are adding new material often.