A few scattered drizzles didn’t dampen the spirit of hundreds who descended on downtown Naperville Friday night to enjoy the food, drinks, music and carnival at Last Fling, Naperville’s annual end-of-summer festival.
“It’s a good family atmosphere” said Duncan Robinson, an exhibit maker for the DuPage Children’s Museum, who hadn’t known until this week about the fest, which continues from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday and noon to 6 p.m. Monday.
“It’s great. We love it,” added Nicola Robinson, who moved to Naperville two years ago with Duncan and their two kids, ages 10 and 4. “We’ve never been here before. This section for little ones is great,” she said about the separate area with rides and games specifically for younger children.
Eight-year-old Megan Karson was much more interested in the big-kid attractions, waiting in the longest line of the night to get tossed around on the Freak Out.
“It looks like a fun ride. I think it’s worth it no matter what,” said Karson, who could not convince her 12-year-old cousin to join her. “He thinks it will tickle his tummy too much. I don’t care ‘cause they’re fun.”
Even Karson’s dad, Jason, decided he didn’t want to accompany his daughter on any “spinning” rides while in town visiting his brother.
“I grew up in Schaumburg. I’ve been in San Diego 21 years,” he said. “We were going to go to Great America” until they heard about Last Fling and decided to check it out for the first time. “We’re leaving tomorrow. What better way to end the trip.”
Alex Barcal, of Naperville, lamented that the unofficial end of summer is marked by the holiday weekend.
“I’m sad. I love warm weather. Not looking forward to winter,” said Barcal, who is grateful Labor Day gives her a break from work as a legal assistant for the McDonald’s Corp. “We need more than a day after this year. The stress levels were incredible,” said Barcal of her challenges working from home with her 5-year-old.
The $30 wristbands for unlimited rides were worth the money as she watched her son and her friend’s kids, ages 6 and 3, giggle as they excitedly went back on the same ride over and over.
The laughter spilled into the vendor area as well, where one business used a squeaking plastic chicken and a cowbell to lure customers to the unique hot dogs at Smilin’ Dawgs.
“We’re crazy fun. Kids love it,” said Susie Field-Felsenthal, who co-owns Smilin’ Dawgs with her husband, Jim. The stand offered everything from traditional Chicago-style to mac-and-cheese dogs, BLT dogs and bacon-wrapped dogs, their big seller.
“It’s our first year here. Everything went smooth and great. Love it. Very responsive crowd. Happy people. Everyone’s nice. Couldn’t ask for better,” said Field-Felsenthal about the sales at her mobile hot dog stand.
The Naperville Jaycees, which organizes the annual event, offered a helping hand to food vendors, who were hit hard during the past year because of pandemic cancellations, including Last Fling.
“We all know everyone got pinged during COVID. We cut the (fees) for our food vendors (this year for that reason),” said Pete Paulsen, volunteer co-chair of this year’s fest. “We’re all here to do this together and make money.”
The event is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Jaycees, which collects donations and sells all the liquor at the event. Planning for the 2021 Last Fling began a year ago, when most businesses were still on hold because of the pandemic. Because they were unsure of what kind of turnout they might get, Paulsen said, “we had to think of scaling it back. We took a good look at the Hill.”
In past years, Last Fling charged admission to enter the Rotary Hill section to see bands on the main stage while setting up a separate free entertainment stage in the vendor area on Jackson Avenue. This year they decided to eliminate the Rotary Hill section, set up only one main stage on Jackson and keep the admission free, Paulsen said.
“It was pretty well taken,” he said. “We felt it would be good for the community to keep Jackson Avenue free.”
The crowd seemed to agree, as the audience around the stage grew throughout Friday evening, clapping and swaying to the songs of The Boy Band Night and 7th Heaven.
The musical lineup for the rest of the weekend includes The Starboards, Le Grande Band, Motown Nation, The Hair Band Night and 16 Candles on Sunday and Rick Lindy & The Wild Ones, The Country Night and Libido Funk Circus on Monday.
“It’s fun putting something together and seeing all the happy faces,” Paulsen said. “Hoping for a very successful year this year.”
Diane Moca is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
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