February 03, 2025
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New organizers take on this weekend’s Park Fest in Streator

Activities, including a carnival, begin Friday at City Park

By Derek Barichello

Daniel Danko (left) and Tana Danko put up a Streator Park Fest sign at the southwest corner of City Park. (Derek Barichello)

Whether it be the former Heritage Days or now Park Fest, there has been a festival celebrated in May at Streator’s City Park for years.

The Light Up Streator Committee made sure that remained the case in 2021.

The volunteer-based committee, which coordinates the city’s Christmas and holiday decorations, is sponsoring the festival, featuring a carnival, food, vendors and live entertainment.

The activities begin 6 p.m. Friday, May 28, and continue through Sunday, May 30, at City Park.

In previous years, the Park Fest was sponsored by the Streator Community Center, which has closed. Wanda Schmitt, of the Streator Community Center, however, has played a key role in keeping the festival alive and has “helped every way she can.”

“Wanda approached me and asked if Light Up Streator could do Park Fest as a fundraiser,” said Joe Richard of Light Up Streator. “Since we do most of our work in the park, it seemed like a natural fit.”

A&M Amusements will provide the carnival for the festival.

Pre-sale armbands are $20 per session or $65 for a megaband, which gives patrons unlimited access to carnival rides for the duration of the festival. The armbands are for sale at Streator Onized Credit Union, 120 E. Northpoint Dr. and 912 N. Shabbona St., or Streator Community Credit Union, 302 N. Park St. Armbands are available on site, but the megaband will be $75 at the carnival box office.

The festival is scheduled 6 to 10 p.m. Friday; 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The A&M Amusements carnival will highlight activities at Streator's Park Fest beginning Friday, May 28, and running through Sunday, May 30. (Shaw Local News Network)

The Streator Dancenter will perform on the Plumb Pavilion stage at 2 p.m. Saturday; the Minus 55 band is scheduled on stage 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday; and The Classix will play 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Hickory Street from Park to Vermillion streets will be closed to traffic through Sunday, as well as Vermillion Street from Hickory to Elm streets. The mail boxes on Hickory Street will remain in their location at this time.

Proceeds from Park Fest will go to the Light Up Streator Committee, which decorates City Park, City Hall, Main Street and Streator’s welcome signs for Christmas and fall.