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Date: 2003-08 RIVERFEST EXPRESS AND TROLLEYFEST 2003 -- TWO GREAT TIMES! Mark Aug. 14-17 on your calendars! For the seventh consecutive year, the Village of South Elgin hosts its summer festival, RiverFest Express, as the Fox River Trolley Museum presents its annual Trolleyfest. Visitors can take in both Aug. 16 and 17, when the Trolley Museum hosts its 24th Trolleyfest, the annual celebration in which “everything that can move will move,” said Terry Younce, Trolleyfest coordinator for the museum, located at 361 S. LaFox St., on Route 31, in South Elgin. Special children get a preview of RiverFest Express 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13 on the RiverFest Express grounds in Panton Mill Park, at State and Water Streets in South Elgin. Its “Special Night for Special Kids” is an evening open to all children with disabilities from the Fox Valley area and their families, said Joyce M. Ware, RiverFest Committee chairperson. Parents must pre-register their children to take part in Special Night festivities by calling Ware at (847) 774-1151. Last year’s “Special Night” won the prestigious 2002 Governor’s Home Town Award, from the State of Illinois. RiverFest Express opens its doors to the general public Thursday, Aug. 14. You’ll find food and beverages in an expanded Food Court. “Several newcomers are joining the main food court,” Ware said. “Be sure to give them a try!” Each day, those visiting RiverFest Express will find carnival rides and attractions, live stage entertainment, fun and games. Thursday, enjoy oldies but goodies by the band Sweet Time. Opening night is also Senior Citizen and Veterans’ Night. Ware said all seniors and vets will receive a 10 per cent discount on food purchased in the food court, with the exception of the beer tent. Capping the night will be fireworks, at 9:30 p.m. Entertainment Friday includes the local favorite Where’s Lenny? and the Styx tribute band Light Up. “Light Up was a huge success last year,” Ware said. Saturday, Trolleyfest begins and RiverFest Express enters its third day. Rides begin at the trolley museum at 11 a.m., and continue till 6 p.m. Visitors can buy round-trip tickets at prices of $3.50 for adults and $2 for seniors and children 3-11, or an all-day pass for $7. Children under 3 ride free. Tickets for trolley rides must be purchased separately from those for RiverFest Express amusement rides, Younce said. Children and adults alike can walk through historic trolley cars. Chicago “L” cars of bygone eras will run, as will antique interurban (intercity) electric railway cars from the North Shore Line and the Chicago Aurora & Elgin, including the museum’s CA&E #20, the oldest operating interurban car in North America. RiverFest entertainment starts with Center Line in the afternoon, followed by the country music of Chase Daniels. The evening will be topped off by the ever-popular songs of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, presented by The Sting Rays. A weekend-long Craft Show begins Saturday in picturesque SEBA Park, making for relaxing shopping. This year, RiverFest hopes to present even more than the 70 vendors who took part last year, Ware said. Something special will be happening wherever you look Sunday, the final day of both RiverFest Express and Trolleyfest. In fact, so much will be happening, that a trolleybus will connect the museum with the main grounds of RiverFest Express at State and Water Streets. The Kane County Gearheads Club will present a Car Show in County Park, just north of the trolley museum, from 12 noon until 4 p.m. Again, trolleys will run from 11 a.m. until at least 6 p.m., Younce said. The entertainment won’t be limited to the RiverFest Music Stage Sunday. From 1 till 4 p.m., the museum will present the barbershop stylings of Grandfather’s Clock, the 2002 winners of the Illinois District Ed Wilson Quartet Service Award. Tenor Stewart Crockett, baritone Carl Missele, bass Dennis Toren and lead singer Harry Swenson have entertained Fox Valley residents since 1987 with both “golden oldies” and “more modern” songs from the 1930s and 1940s, the heart of the Trolley Era. On the RiverFest Music Stage, Bob Kearns and Terry Buck will appear Sunday afternoon, followed by Island Groove. On Sunday night, High Mileage returns to entertain the crowd, with fireworks closing RiverFest Express at 9:30 p.m. The museum also encourages those visiting TrolleyFest and RiverFest Express to board at the Blackhawk Forest Preserve parking lot, off Route 31 in St. Charles township, and ride trolleys to the museum and RiverFest. For information on RiverFest Express, call the RiverFest Hotline, at (847) 774-1151. For information on TrolleyFest, call the museum InfoLine at (847) 697-4676. 
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