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Date: 2004-08 SOUTH ELGIN'S RIVERFEST EXPRESS AND THE FOX RIVER TROLLEY MUSEUM'S TROLLEYFEST - DOUBLE THE FUN! The celebration covers four days, two events, and one great time Aug. 19-22 as the Village of South Elgin presents its eighth annual RiverFest Express, and on Aug. 21-22 as the Fox River Trolley Museum presents its 24th annual Trolleyfest! This year's celebration includes live stage entertainment and carnival rides all four days; a Civil War encampment and re-enactments Friday, Saturday and Sunday; craft and car shows Saturday and Sunday; trolley rides on an extended schedule Saturday and Sunday; and fireworks Thursday and Sunday nights! "The carnival will be back supplying fun and family enjoyment," said Joyce M. Ware, Riverfest chairperson. "We're hoping you enjoy the variety we've picked out this year." As always, special families get a preview on Wednesday, Aug. 18, RiverFest's "Special Night for Special Kids," recipient of the 2002 Governor's Home Town Award. "Every year brings out more special kids for this special night of fun," Ware said. Food that night will be provided by local businesses and volunteers, who will serve and assist the children and their families. Families wishing to take part must pre-register at South Elgin Village Hall or by mailing in the registration form available at http://www.southelgin.com/riverfest/special_night.html. RiverFest Express goes into high gear Thursday, Aug. 19, with food and Festive Singers on the Festival stage in Panton Mill Park, across the street from Village Hall, and on the banks of the Fox River at State Street, beginning at 5 p.m., the rock 'n roll of MJSTK and unlimited carnival rides at $13 a person beginning at 6 p.m., and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. On Friday, the carnival rides begin and the food court opens again at 5 p.m., with soft rock from the Blind Roosevelts till 8 p.m. From 9 till 11 p.m., there's more rock from Infinity. For Civil War enthusiasts, RiverFest Express this year presents an encampment that will begin Friday, continuing through Sunday, featuring displays and demonstrations from that bygone era at the corner of State and LaFox Streets. On Saturday, Trolleyfest gets underway at the Fox River Trolley Museum at 11 a.m., along with RiverFest's craft show. Crafters, small businesses, antique and collectible dealers, as well as flea market displays will be on hand. Last year's craft show featured dozens of exhibitors, each one different! Trolleyfest is traditionally the weekend during which "everything that can run will run," said Ed Konecki, museum president. Historic trolleys ranging in age from 45 to 102 years young will take the rails on an extended schedule that will go at least until 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Those attending either day can ride a variety of retired Chicago "L" cars, interurban (inter-city) electric railway cars, and even the museum's popular electric freight locomotive and Illinois Central R.R. caboose. Regular fares of $3.50 for adults and $2 for children 3-11 and seniors apply. Carnival ride tickets are not good on trolley cars. Carnival rides and the food court open Saturday at 12 noon, as magician Bruce Young performs the first of two Saturday shows on the Festival stage. Killer Stevens plays rock 1-3 p.m., Great Guns offers country music 3:30-6:30 p.m., Bruce Young returns for an hour at 6:30 p.m., and Chase Daniels finishes the evening, 7:30-11 p.m., with more country music. There will be unlimited carnival rides, $15 per person, between 1 and 5 p.m., and the Kane County Gearheads Car Club will co-sponsor Saturday's custom and antique car show in County Park, just north of the Trolley Museum grounds between 12 noon and 4 p.m. Sunday, the final day of RiverFest Express and Trolleyfest, is by no means the least. Trolleyfest resumes at the Trolley Museum and the craft show reopens at 11 a.m. Carnival rides begin, the food court opens and Bruce Young begins his Sunday performance at 12 noon. Between noon and 5 p.m., in County Park, kids young and old can get a close-up look at emergency vehicles that will include police cars, fire trucks and ambulances, depending upon availability. Between 1 and 5 p.m., Windy City Amusements again offers unlimited carnival rides for $15 per person. Bob & Terry take Festival stage 1-2 p.m., the Underdogs play a bit of everything 2-5 p.m., and the New Invaders play British tributes and disco 6-9:30 p.m. After that, fireworks will close out RiverFest Express over the Fox River. For information on RiverFest Express, call its hotline, at (847) 774-1151 or visit its Web site, at http://www.southelgin.com/riverfest. For additional information on Trolleyfest and the Fox River Trolley Museum, call the museum's information line, at (847) 697-4676. 
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