As the largest free-admission food and music festival in the U.S., this 10-day party provides everything from hot dogs to haute cuisine dished out by 70-plus area restaurants. Featuring live music, cooking demonstrations, a wine garden and family fun!

Performances take place on two stages and features nationally recognized performers as well as the most popular local country music entertainment.

As the Chicago area's only hot air balloon festival, the Eyes to the Skies Balloon Festival offers an excellent opportunity to show this magical experience to your audience. The multicolored hot air balloons in various sizes and shapes all have unique stories to tell.

From the world's tallest hot air balloon (the Energizer Bunny), a giant moving truck (United Van Lines), a house that flies (Soaring Home from Re/Max), the debut of the Alpo dog food can and Mayflower balloon, the world's first handicapped accessible balloon (Serena's Song), an 80 foot tall football (The Sports Complex), and even Felix the Cat, there's a favorite here that will surely capture your audience's interest. Our pilots share their passion for the sport and the challenge of flying these 7+ stories tall gentle giants.

Saturday, July 1
5:30 AM - Flight
6:30 PM - Flight
8:15 PM – Balloon Glow
Sunday, July 2
5:30 AM - Flight
6:30 PM - Flight
8:15 PM – Balloon Glow
Monday, July 3
5:30 AM - Flight
6:30 PM - Flight
8:15 PM – Balloon Glow
Tuesday, July 4
5:30 AM - Flight
6:30 PM - Flight
8:15 PM – Balloon Glow

Location
The festival is held at the Lisle Community Park, located at Route 53 and Short Street in Lisle. The balloon launch field is located on the athletic fields east of the Sea Lion Aquatic Park and on the south side of Short Street.

Admission - Mornings
There is no admission charge for the morning balloon launches. Spectators can view the balloons launch, tether, or fly in to the field (wind direction permitting) from the perimeter of the balloon field. For safety reasons, the event does not allow spectators onto the balloon launch field unless instructed by the event announcer.

Parking in the morning can be obtained on Short Street, in the Sea Lion Aquatic Park parking lot, and areas in close proximity to the launch field.

Admission - Evenings
The festival opens on Saturday and Sunday at Noon. The festival opens at 4PM on Monday and Noon on Tuesday. Adult admission is $9.00, Ages 5 - 12 is $2.00, and under age 5 is free. Festival admission includes hot air balloon launches and balloon glow, nationally known musical entertainment, a special children's area, an exotic animal educational show, an arts and crafts fair, a variety of food vendors, a large carnival, and an assortment of daily events including the spectacular fireworks display.

Directions
The festival is located at Lisle Community Park on Short Street just off of Route 53. If you are taking I-355, exit on Maple Avenue West and follow the signs to parking. If you are going west on I-88, exit Route 53 south and follow the signs to parking. If you are going east on I-88, exit Naperville Road south. Take Naperville Road to Ogden Avenue, Route 34, and go east until you see the signs for parking.

The 14th Annual
Great Cardboard Boat Regatta®
of Glen Ellyn, IL

Saturday, July 1, 2006, noon

Location: Lake Ellyn Park

http://gcbr.com/

Kick off July with Chicago’s first annual ArtLeague Kickball Tournament!

ThreeWalls, StopSmiling Magazine and Bad at Sports invite you to attend this summer’s most anticipated art event. Four teams from rivaling neighborhoods go head to head – attend the games and be part of history!

THE MULLETS vs WEST TOWN BANDITOS vs RECORD PLAYERS vs WEST LOOP FLYERS

GAME TIME: Saturday, July 1st, 12:00 – 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Kickball Field at Wicker Park (at Damen & Milwaukee)
AFTER PARTY + AWARDS CEREMONY: 6:30 PM at Smoke Daddy (at 1804 West Division Street)

Come together for a good old-fashioned afternoon of camp sports, whistle blowing and vulgarity. Dig up and dust off your favorite fourth grade insults and join in on the fun. Bookies and mascots are encouraged and spectacles are unavoidable! Original celebrity player cards with photos and stats will be for sale. Bad at Sports Podcast hosts will present a play by play commentary. ArtLeague Kickball will be umpired by Stop Smiling Magazine. Players will don uniforms provided by American Apparel. The games will be followed by an after-party and awards ceremony at Smoke Daddy bar and restaurant, located at 1804 W. Division Street. Rules will be posted on-site. Games commence at 12:00 noon and ends at 5:00 p.m.

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