Batavia Windmill City Festival in Full Swing—Here's the 2012 Schedule

Windmill City Festival has long been a staple of the community and has become a tradition for many local families. The festival features countless activities over the course of two and a half days.

Whether you visit the carnival, compete in a 5k, participate in the pet parade or dive in to an ice cream eating contest, every member of the family is sure to find a new favorite activity! This year’s festival will be held Friday, July 13, through Sunday, July 15, at the , Houston Street and North Island Avenue in downtown Batavia. Admission is free.

Mark your calendar and be sure to drop by the downtown area to enjoy Batavia’s biggest event of the summer! The Windmill City Festival committee includes representatives from the Batavia Park District, Batavia Chamber of Commerce and the city of Batavia.

New this year

Get five extra hours of fun Friday! Food booths will open at 11 a.m., and the beer garden and carnival will open at noon on Friday, July 13. Grab lunch from one of the food vendors, play a few games then experience a carnival ride.

The Golf Challenge is back by popular demand! Take your shot at chipping a hole-in-one on a floating green in the Depot Pond. Hours of operation will be Friday, July 13, and Saturday, July 14, from noon to 6 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for landing on the green or making a hole-in-one. The cost is just $1 for two shots.

Grab your friends, and step in to the Windmill City Festival Photo Booth Saturday, July 14 from 6:00-11:00 p.m. Each photo strip is just $2.

Windmill City Festival 2012 Schedule

FRIDAY, JULY 13

Noon - 11 pm: Food Booths Open

Noon - 4 pm: Carnival - Purchase a wristband for $20 and enjoy unlimited rides from 12 - 4 pm! Location: Houston Street.

Noon - 11 pm: Beer Garden Open

Noon - 6 pm: Golf Challenge - Take your shot at chipping a hole-in-one on a green floating in the Depot Museum Pond and win exciting prizes for landing on the green and for making a hole-in-one. Cost: $1 for two shots.

6 - 8 pm: Billy Croft - With music from the best of current country rock legends like The Eagles to Kenny Chesney, to the classics of George Strait and Elvis Presley.

8:45-10:45 pm - Game Stop Guitar Hero Competition

9 - 11 pm: The Wedding Banned - Skip the ceremony and start the party! The Wedding Banned has become the hottest party in the Midwest, playing your favorites from the 80s, 90s and beyond. Two members from the audience will become the “bride” and “groom”, then every show turns into the ultimate wedding reception!

SATURDAY, JULY 14

8 am - noon: Batavia Farmer's Market - Enjoy the changing bounty of the season in downtown Batavia with vegetables, fruit plants, cut flowers and baked goods from local growers. Presented by Batavia Main Street. Location: South Water Street.

9 am - 4 pm: Craft Show and Flea Market - Browse a variety of vendors as you stroll along the scenic Fox River. From jewelry and yard ornaments to children's accessories and sports items, you're sure to find a hidden treasure you can't live without. Location: Riverwalk.

9:30 - 11:30 am: WCF Touch a Truck - Children of all ages will have a chance to explore various vehicles! Location: Parking Lot by Riverwalk.

10 am: Pet Parade - Invite your furry, or not-so furry friend to this unique parade! Win pet prizes for the following categories: Best Trick, Fastest Wagging Tail, Most Spots, Longest Ears, Most Unusual Pet, Best Costume, Highest Jump and Best Kisser. Registered parade participants will receive a complimentary "doggie bag" to take home courtesy of local sponsors. Registration will be held near the main stage from 9:15-9:50 am.

11 am-11 pm Food Booths Open

Noon - 4:00 pm: Carnival - Purchase a wristband for $20 and enjoy unlimited rides from 12 - 4 pm! Location: Houston Street.

Noon - 11 pm: Beer Garden Open.

Noon - 6 pm: Golf Challenge - Take your shot at chipping a hole-in-one on a green floating in the Depot Museum Pond and win exciting prizes for landing on the green and for making a hole-in-one. Cost: $1 for two shots.

Noon-2:15 pm: Park District Demonstrations at the Main Stage

• Irish Dance 12:00 pm
• Karate 12:30 pm
• Batavia Showstoppers 1:00 pm
• Spirit Cheer 1:30 pm
• Fencing 2:00 pm

1- 4 pm: Kane County Cougars Wiffleball Home Run Derby
Step up to the plate to compete in the Kane County Cougars Wiffleball Home Run Derby. There will be three age groups: 8-12 (1:00-2:00 pm), 13-17 (2:00-3:00 pm) and 18+ (3:00-4:00 pm). Each participant will get 10 pitches. Bats and balls will be provided. The first place winner in each age category will receive a medal and ten (10) Kane County Cougars tickets. The second place winner in each age category will receive a medal and six (6) Kane County Cougars tickets.

3 pm: Diaper Derby - Enter your little one in this exciting "crawling race" for babies 6 - 15 months. Participants and their enthusiastic supporters need to register at the Main Stage between 2:30 -2:45pm. Sponsored by the Batavia Mother's Club.

3 - 4 pm: Batavia Teen Center Battle of the Bands runner up "Leadfoot Linda"
The band features Evan Reid and David Michelson of Batavia and Jack Kimberly and Robert Kolet of St. Charles. The band met at Music Matters School of Music two years ago and has been rehearsing and performing ever since.

4 pm: Jason Kollum - Children's entertainer and juggler. Location: Main Stage.

5 - 7 pm: Strolling Entertainer - Jason Kollum will entertain the crowds with his juggling talents while strolling on stilts!

5:50 pm: Batavia Park District Flippers Demonstration - The gymnastics and tumble team campers will "flip it" for you! Location: Main Stage.

6-11 pm: WCF Photo Booth. $2 per photo strip.

6 pm: Bags Tournament - The Batavia Parks Foundation is hosting a "Toss for a Cause" bags tournament for participants 14 years and older. Two-person teams will play a minimum of three games and cash prizes will go to the top two teams. Register on site prior to the tournament. Fee is $25 per team. Click here for bags tournament registration form. Location: Turnaround parking lot.

6 - 8 pm: Karen Hart - The Karen Hart Band is a talented female-fronted Classic Rock band that entertains all ages with their great song selection and endless energy performing fun music covering all of the favorite artists from the 70's through today. Just recently voted Best Cover Band and Best Dance Band in a fan mail-in contest, the Karen Hart Band will entertain you with a full rich sound, experienced musicianship and a non-stop energy show. For more info go to www.KarenHartBand.com.

9 - 11 pm: Arra - One of the best and largest drawing classic rock cover bands in the Chicagoland area for the past 2 decades. Performing the biggest hits by the biggest bands of all times with precision and excellence is the secret to their success. Their unparalleled vocal harmonies and incredible musicianship is also what has brought them to being one of the most sought after club and festival bands in the Chicago area markets. Arra has performed with some of the biggest bands and performers of all time. Kansas, 38 Special, Survivor, Rare Earth, The Ides of March, Steppenwolf, Paul Rodgers from Bad Company and Dennis DeYoung from Styx are just a few of the National acts that Arra has shared the stage with throughout the years. Arra was recently voted best classic rock band (3) years in a row in a major local music publication.

SUNDAY, JULY 15

7:30 am: WCF Youth 1-Mile Run: A competitive, short road race for ages 5 and up! This race will now have chip-timing and awards will be given to the 3 overall males and females and the top 3 in each age division. Strollers are welcome for this race! Sorry, dogs and bicycles are not allowed. The first 100 registrants will be guaranteed a t-shirt. Registration forms must be received at the Batavia Park District by 5:00 pm on July 6. If you register by July 6, you may pick up your race packet from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Thursday, July 12 or Friday, July 13 at the Civic Center, 327 W. Wilson Street. Packets may also be picked up starting at 6:00 am the day of the race near City Hall. Registration will also take place before the race from 6-7 am. Race begins at 7:30 on Island Avenue. Chip-timing and results will be provided by Real Timing, Inc. Fees: $10 by July 6, $15 Day of the race. Location: Batavia City Hall Plaza.
» Download WCF Youth 1-Mile Run Registration Form

8:30 am: Windmill Whirl: 5K Race: Tackle the Fox River Trail! This race will now have chip-timing and awards will be given to the 3 overall males and females and the top 3 in each age division. Sorry, strollers, dogs and bicycles are not allowed. The first 200 registrants will be guaranteed a t-shirt. Registration forms must be received at the Batavia Park District by 5:00 pm on July 6. If you register by July 6, you may pick up your race packet from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Thursday, July 12 or Friday, July 13 at the Civic Center, 327 W. Wilson Street. Packets may also be picked up starting at 6:00 am the day of the race near City Hall. Registration will also take place before the race from 6-8 am. Race begins at 8:30 on Island Avenue. Chip-timing and results will be provided by Real Timing, Inc. Fee: $20 By 07/06/12, $30 Day of the Race. Location: Batavia City Hall Plaza
» Download Windmill Whirl 5K Race Registration Form

Noon: 'LiL 500, Batavia's Big Wheel Races: Bring your own big wheel and appropriate safety gear and get ready to pedal to the finish line! Kids are divided into the following age groups: 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years and 6 year olds. Participants must provide their own big wheel! Location: Riverwalk

Noon - 3 pm: Face Painting and Tattoo: Batavia Teen Center $1

Noon - 6 pm: Food Booths Open

Noon - 6 pm: Beer Garden Open

Noon - 4 pm: Carnival - Purchase a wristband for $20 and enjoy unlimited rides from 12 - 4 pm! Location: Houston Street.

1-3 pm: Anthology (Chicago Tribute Band)
CTA brings to life the “Golden Age” of Chicago by meticulously recreating many of the great songs from the first 11 albums down to the finest musical detail. See CTA live and experience the early days of Chicago as they perform all of the now class songs.

2 pm: Ice Cream Eating Contest - Presented by Foltos Tonsorial Parlor and Batavia Creamery. Location: in front of the Main Stage. Presented by Foltos Tonsorial Parlor.

3 pm: Fire Hose Challenge: Compete in this exciting challenge to send a ball across the opposing team's line using fire hoses! Participants must be at least 5 years old to participate. Location: Batavia Riverwalk

4 - 6 pm: BBI: If a high energy party is what you are looking for, BBI is your band. They consist of the coolest musicians and vocalist in the music game. They can put down on their hip hop and rock out with No Doubt and Uncle Kracker. They play music from the 70's, 80's and 90's. No matter which way you like it, you will be sure to like them.

This information was courtesy of the Batavia Park District.