MOUNT GREENWOOD — Mount Greenwood Fest will celebrate neighborhood pride from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday on the campus of the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences.
The free event at 3857 W. 111th St. again will be organized by the Mount Greenwood Chamber of Commerce.
"When the weather is nice, we get anywhere from 5,000-7,000 people," said Darlene Myers, the executive director of the local chamber.
Mount Greenwood Fest began two years ago, but the far Southwest Side neighborhood has been finding reasons to celebrate for more than 25 years, Myers said.
She and other business leaders began with a celebration called Party in the Park. That get-together continued until 2005, Myers said.
"After that, the restaurants weren't doing well. So we decided to help them," she said.
A Taste of Mount Greenwood was born from this effort to help neighborhood food vendors. The food-focused event ran for three years before it evolved into Mount Greenwood Fest.
The festival is hitting its stride this year. Some 20 food vendors have signed on to participate. There will be a car show that's expected to draw more than 150 antique and head-turning vehicles.
A pair of bands will perform live music at the fest, and there's a bevy of activities for young and old. Here's a list of some of the highlights that attendees can enjoy:
• Dino Jump will bring three bounce houses to the festival courtesy of The PrivateBank, which operates a branch at 3052 W. 111th St. in Mount Greenwood.
• Steve Coyne of Mount Greenwood will play the bagpipes at 1 p.m. Coyne been a member of the Chicago Police Department's Bagpipes & Drums of the Emerald Society since 2011. He's played the bagpipes for 13 years.
• Jim Nesci returns to Mount Greenwood Fest with his Cold Blooded Creatures Show from 3-4 p.m. The show allows kids to get up close to a variety of animals including an alligator, python and a giant tortoise.
• The Palos R/C Flying Club will be at the neighborhood festival along with their remote-control aircraft. Several times throughout the event, the planes will drop candy on the crowd.
• The Ag School not only plays host to the event, but students also operate a petting zoo and farm stand during the festival, Myers said. "The chamber is working with [Ag School Principal] Bill Hook. He is phenomenal, just phenomenal," she said.
• Local firefighters will provide a demonstration on the "jaws of life" at 1 p.m. This tool allows first responders to cut through automobiles in order to rescue those trapped inside. The vehicle used in the demonstration is being donated by Walsh's Auto and Truck Repair Inc. in suburban Chicago Ridge.
• The chamber will sponsor a face-painting station. This festival favorite will be available throughout the day.
• The Lion's Club will offer vision tests and hearing screenings courtesy of its eye/hearing bus.
Myers said the long list of activities and vendors along with the healthy crowd is a sign that the neighborhood festival is well supported. She envisions further growth of what's become an annual event.
"I think Mount Greenwood Fest will be here for a long time," she said.
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