Lake in the Hills Summer Sunset Fest returning next weekend for 20th anniversary

Lake in the Hills’ Summer Sunset Fest is set to start Friday and run through Sunday as the event returns to mark its 20th year in the village after being canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19.

“This year marks the festival’s 20th anniversary,” Village Trustee Diane Murphy, the festival’s chairperson, said in a news release. “We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this momentous milestone by coming together as a community after a difficult year.”

A full slate of activities for kids, families and adults is planned in Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Road, starting 3 p.m. Friday, when carnival rides along with food and beer tents open up. They will conclude after Sunday night’s fireworks show, which blasts off at 9:30 p.m., according to the event’s website.

In between, there will also be a classic and custom car show from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, a wine tasting tent from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, and family bingo at 6:30 p.m.

Friday’s live music is being headlined by the This End Up Band, which will perform 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. on the Flood Brothers Main Stage.

Festival grounds will open 9:30 a.m. Saturday, and a parade will step off at 10 a.m. from the corner of Grafton Farm and Miller roads, travel east down Miller for 1 mile and conclude at the corner of Albrecht and Miller roads.

Food and beer tents will open 11 a.m. Saturday, and the Doggie Derby Dash will be held 11:30 a.m. You can register your pooch to race online at summersunsetfest.com/doggie-derby-dash.

Carnival rides open at noon Saturday and a number of other activities are being held, with live music starting up at 2:30 p.m. with Istvan and His Imaginary Band, followed by The Instinct at 4:30 p.m., and then Shining Start, a tribute band to Earth, Wind & Fire, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The Saturday headliner is Too Hype Crew from 9 to 10:30 p.m.

More events are planned for Sunday, including a bags tournament, and more live music performers will be on stage starting at 1 p.m., and the Fireworks 5K will be run at 6:30 p.m., with registration available online at summersunsetfest.com/fireworks-5k/.

“The Summer Sunset Fest Committee is eager to welcome back our beloved end-of-summer celebration,” said Village President Ray Bogdanowski, who also serves on the festival committee. “We are planning to bring the community a festival to remember in celebration of both the event’s return and its twentieth anniversary. We can’t wait to see everyone.”