By Madhu Mayer

After much uncertainty, the Village of Plainfield will have a festival to usher in the summer season.

The Plainfield Village Board Monday approved Plainfield Fest, which will be from 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, July 15; 6 a.m. to midnight Saturday, July 6; and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 17, on Lockport Street between Route 59 and James Street.

Plainfield Fest, featuring arts and crafts, food trucks, bean bag tournament, car show, bands, and beer tents, has been a popular three-day event sponsored by the Plainfield Riverfront Foundation and the Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce. The event will be held in downtown Plainfield.

“Plainfield Fest is traditionally one of Plainfield’s largest events of the year, with attendance estimated at several thousand per day,” said Tasha Marsaglia, one of the organizers.

In the past, costs for security and public works’ costs for Plainfield Fest have reached more than $50,000 given the amount of staffing it requires to hold the event, said Village Administrator Joshua Blakemore. He said the village incurred $17,806 in costs for the 2021 festival, with the Riverfront Foundation paying $8,900. This means the village had to pay the remaining $8,906 for services provided by the police, public works, and emergency management personnel.

Staff is estimating the cost of the 2022 festival, which includes road closures in downtown Plainfield near Lockport and DesPlaines streets, will cost about $35,000. At a prior board discussion, the goal is for the foundation to reimburse the village one-quarter of the net profits from the fest.

Nadine Vasquez agreed with the compromise, recognizing the amount of positive exposure Plainfield Fest brings to the community.

“My family and friends have been going to Plainfield Fest for at least 20 years,” she said. “I realize Plainfield does need to provide security services as the crowds can get out of hand. But the pluses far outweigh the negatives. I am just excited to celebrate summer with this event.”

Nearby communities are also planning their summer festival season as Taste of Joliet will be from June 24 to June 26 at Joliet Memorial Stadium; Taste of Bolingbrook will be on Aug. 13 at the Promenade; and rock group Soul Asylum will headline the Village of Romeoville’s RomeoFest from Aug. 4 to 7.