Your Guide to Plainfield Fest: Event Returns to Downtown Plainfield This Weekend

Rides, games, food and live music will return to downtown Plainfield this weekend.

The annual fundraiser for the Riverfront Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing Plainfield’s riverfront,  will kick off as the carnival midway opens at 4 p.m. Friday, July 20.

The fest is open from 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. For fest-goers who forget to bring cash, portable ATMs will be on site this year.

The event is made possible with support from title sponsor , along with supporting sponsor ; contributing sponsors Plainfield Patch, of Plainfield and ; stage sponsor ; beer tent sponsor Miller Lite/Kozol Brothers; and honorary sponsor newspaper.

This year’s live musical lineup features local musicians, a Bon Jovi tribute band and more. Most acts will perform at the Plainfield Fest beer tent, adjacent to the parking lot at 24103 W. Lockport St.

Bingo will return to the fest this year. Sponsored by the Plainfield Rotary Club, Bingo will be offered in a new tent adjacent to the beer tent on Saturday and Sunday.

On Sunday, the beer tent will be transformed into a sports bar, complete with memorabilia and appearances by local athletes and Chicago Cubs greats Bobby Dernier and Milt Pappas.  Fans can also catch the Cubs vs. Cardinals game and enter to win Chicago Cubs, White Sox and Bears tickets during the event, dubbed "Bags & Baseball."

4 - 11 p.m.: The carnival kicks off as the carnival opens; this year, the new “Freak Out” joins the lineup of rides.

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Michael Heaton performs

9 to 11:30 p.m.: Spoken Four performs

10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: The Business and Craft Expo will take place along Lockport Street. Click here for a full list of vendors and businesses.

10 a.m. - 6 p.m.: Kids' Jump Area is open

11 a.m. – 11 p.m.: The carnival is open

2 to 3 p.m.: Blood Red Boots performs at the D’Arcy Motors stage in the Miller Lite/Kozol Bros. beer tent

3:30 to 5 p.m.: One Twenty West performs

5:30 to 7 p.m.: Dan Hubbard and the Humadors perform

7:30 to 9 p.m.: Jaw Potato performs

9:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.: Bon Jovi tribute band Bad Medicine performs

Noon to 6 p.m.: The Business & Craft Expo returns to Lockport Street

Noon to 6 p.m.: The carnival is open

Noon to 6 p.m. - Kids' Jump Area is open

1 to 5 p.m.: Two-member teams will compete in the double-elimination bags tournament at the beer tent. Check in is from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Teams must pre-register. Registration is $50 per team. Click here for more information or to register. Signup is ongoing, and fest organizers are still looking for teams.

1 to 3 p.m. – A Harry Caray impersonator will appear at the beer tent as it’s transformed into a sports bar for "Bags & Baseball" Sunday.

2 to 3 p.m.: Rub elbows with former Chicago Cubs Bobby Dernier and Milt Pappas. You’ll also meet aspiring professional baseball players as members of the stop by the beer tent.

The following food vendors are slated to be at the fest:

• Annabell’s Bar-B-Q
• China China
• Coach’s Catch Seafood & Chicken
• Maui Wowi Smoothies
• Keke's Fun Foods
• Hillbilly Corn
• RS Concessions

The carnival, hosted by North American Midway, will be open from 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Carnival ride coupons are $1.25 each, 22 for $25 and 55 for $60. Depending on the ride, admission is two to four coupons. 

On Sunday, patrons can take advantage of a $22 “pay one price" wristband, good for unlimited rides from noon to 6 p.m.

The Kids’ Jump Area, sponsored by Kiddie Academy of Plainfield, will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Entry fee is $3, good for unlimited use, and the attraction will feature six inflatables from of Plainfield.

Parking is available at the free Riverfront parking lot on Countryman Drive, as well as at , , the municipal lots on Des Plaines Street across from the former fire department headquarters and the lot next to the on Illinois Street. Handicapped parking will be available on Lockport Street east of James Street, on Chicago Street between Illinois and Des Plaines streets, and at the former fire department headquarters lot on Des Plaines Street.

The has announced the following road closures, effective from 6 p.m. Thursday, July 19, through about 5 a.m. Monday, July 23:

• Lockport Street between Route 59 and Fox River Street will be completely closed to all traffic. Lockport Street between James Street and Fox River Street will be checkpoint controlled and open to local businesses and residents, and Handicapped parking.
• Des Plaines Street between Ottawa Street and Oak Street will be closed. A checkpoint will be located at Oak Street and Des Plaines Street for local traffic and Handicapped Parking.
• Illinois Street will be completely closed between the Library and the alley just south of Lockport Street.
• Chicago Street between Illinois Street and Fox River Street will be closed. A checkpoint for local residents and Handicapped parking will be located at Illinois Street and Chicago Street.
• Fox River Street between Lockport Street and Ottawa Street will be a checkpoint-controlled access.