Arts & Entertainment

'Party' Today to Spotlight Village's River Development Plans

Art show, duck race, live entertainment and 'water wars' among the highlights of the inaugural 'Party in the Park'

The DuPage River may no longer be Plainfield's "hidden gem" by the end of today, and that will be a good thing, Plainfield Riverfront Foundation member Steve Martin said.

If the foundation's Party in the Park does what they hope it will do, Plainfield residents will not only get a good view of the river for which Riverfront Park is named but will learn about and embrace the village's long-range plan to develop the area into a unique family destination, Martin said.

The idea for the event was born six months ago, when foundation members were brainstorming ways their nonprofit, volunteer group could "get this thing going," he said.

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"The question was how do we get stuff actually happening there and get the community using (Riverfront Park)," Martin said.

The end result is a community gathering in which local organizations — everyone from the Moose Lodge to area churches to the Plainfield Township Public Library — will have an event or booth at the fest that they hope will lure people to the riverfront, he said. Groups can use it to make money for their own causes or to help the riverfront development effort.

Find out what's happening in Plainfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

One highlight of the daylong event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (with the beer tent open until 8 p.m.), will be the Plainfield Art League Art Show, which has 17 artists planning to display and sell their work, league gallery President Tina Storey said.

"That is quite a few for a first-time event," she said. "I'm just praying it doesn't rain."

The National Weather Service says there's a 60 percent chance of rain, with a high temperature of 70.

Another event expected to be a big draw is the duck race. Participants buy plastic ducks at $5 apiece ($20 for a "quack pack" of five) that will be dropped into the river at 4 p.m. First-, second- and third-place winners take home prizes of $500, $200 and $100 respectively.

Among the other activities planned is a kids' fishing tournament sponsored by the Moose, a car and tractor exhibition, mini golf and fire department "water wars."

While the party will be the thing the foundation hopes brings people to Riverfront Park for the first time, it was the invitation-only barbecue in the park Friday that will bring in the money, Martin said. Tickets were $75 a person, and about 100 to 115 people were expected to attend.

There are several corporate sponsors whose donations are underwriting the cost of both days' events, he said, and Canadian National Railway — whose tracks run parallel to the park — gave the foundation a huge boost with a $25,000 contribution.

The goal is to raise money to help implement the village's plan to enhance and develop the riverfront for public use, Martin said. One of the first things foundation members would like to see built is a bridge over the DuPage linking Riverfront Park on the west side and Electric Park on the east.

For Martin, the foundation is his way of improving the quality of life in the town he's called home for seven years.

"I live in the community, and I care about Plainfield. I enjoy being part of activities to benefit the community," he said. "We're going to build Plainfield (with this park)."

Schedule of Events

9 to 11 a.m. – Plainfield Moose Kids' Fishing Tournament

10:30 a.m. – Nouveau Dance

11:05 a.m. – Harvest Church Choir

Noon – Presentation of Colors/9-11 Remembrance

12:35 p.m. – SRM Cloggers – Spotlight Dance

1:10 p.m. – United Methodist Men's Quartet

1:30 p.m. – Registration for Friends of Plainfield Park District Bags Tournament

1:45 p.m. – Vaughn Dance Studio

2 p.m. – Bags Tournament

2:20 p.m. – Glee Club

2:55 p.m. – Dulcimer Duet

3:30 p.m. – Dave & Lynn Acoustic

4 p.m. – Duck Race

4:05 p.m. – Plainfield Park District Dancers

4:40 p.m. – Larry Robinson's Blue Grass

All-day – Plainfield Art League Art Show, Mini golf, face painting, fire department "water wars," dunk tank, car and tractor exhibition, beer and food tent, kids' jumpies


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