116th Annual Lake Forest Day 'Salutes Our Welcoming Community'

LAKE FOREST, IL — The 116th Lake Forest Day is set to bring the town together with two days of fun and community pride. The festivities begin Tuesday evening with the opening of the carnival at West Park and continues Wednesday morning with a fun run and parade along Western Avenue.

Originally held on the first Wednesday in August because many local businesses would take the afternoons off, the first Lake Forest Day in 1908 featured a mind-reading dog, a hot air balloon and a cutest baby contest, according to the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff.

It was initially organized by the Lake Forest Women's Club to raise money for a new hospital at the request of the Young Men's Club, which then began organizing it itself.

In 1921, the American Legion McKinlock Post 264 began sponsoring the celebration as its main annual fundraiser, according to the center. The Lake Forest Day Foundation was founded in 2007 to assist with organizing responsibilities.

“Lake Forest Day is a great way to bring our residents together,” Mayor Randy Tack said in the city's newsletter. “It’s such a special event for families; grandparents who went to it as kids take their grandchildren.”

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According to Lake Forest American Legion Cmdr. and Lake Forest Day Chair Ed Geraghty, the event was originally a single-day affair.

"So, what happened about 1980 or the early 1990s, the carnival people would get here on Monday night after they closed their other carnivals. They'd get here and start setting up on Tuesday, and while they were setting up, they would want to test the rides," Geragthy said.

"And of course, kids being kids, they were all over here watching the activity, and the carnival people would say, 'Well, you want to test the rides?' and the kids would get in the rides, and they'd run around, and it was free," he said in an interview. "Somewhere, we aren't sure what year, somebody said, 'Hey, we should be charging for these rides!' And we said, 'Hey, that is a good idea.'"

With the theme, "Salutes Our Welcoming Community," this year's parade is set to include 100 entrants, including local veterans, elected officials, community groups, businesses, performers, nonprofits and more. A full listing of the parade order and route map is available online.

Lake Forest Day 2024 schedule

Tuesday

6 to 10 p.m.: Carnival at West Park with rides, face painting, carnival games, snacks, BBQ, hot buttered corn, ice-cold beverages and live music by CROYA. (tickets on sale from 5 p.m.)

Wednesday

7 a.m.: 5K & Fun Run at Deerpath Park (400 Hastings Road)

10 a.m.: Parade begins

11 a.m. - 10 p.m.: Carnival with more live music by The Derrick Stout Band

The parade route starts at Western Avenue and Vine Avenue, then proceeds northbound towards West Park. There will be no access to Western Avenue during the parade from 9:45 to 11:30 a.m.