You never know what you’re going to see at Long Grove’s Vintage Days festival.
“It’s a good, fun way to just stroll through the town,” said John Kopecky, Vintage Days chairman. “You can look at things and go have lunch and come back and see if you want to buy it.”
Vintage Days is held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 29 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 30 in downtown Long Grove. Organized by the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association, Vintage Days features unique, antique and otherwise interesting items for sale from more than 30 vendors in an open-air marketplace.
“Our town is so old-fashioned and charming and having Vintage Days in our town is a perfect fit because of the ambience and the vibe of Long Grove,” said Nikki Faul, event manager with the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association. “You’re kind of set back in time, not only when you’re in the little town, but when you’re shopping and finding really cool antique finds that you wouldn’t find at the big box stores.”
Kopecky’s mother had antique stores in Woodstock, Lake Zurich and Long Grove in the 1970s and he grew up working in the stores. His own antique store is called Country House of Long Grove.
“It’s always been a thing of mine to keep the old ways alive,” he said.
But there has to be progress somewhere and this year, it’s particularly sweet.
“We’re adding a dessert element to (the fest),” he said. “We’re going to have a cheesecake vendor called Evanly Cheesecakes. The fellow who does this, his name is Evan and he comes from a long line of a baking family. He was at Strawberry Fest and he did a nice job.”
Another local baker will also supply something sweet, he said.
“Usually, it’s all vintage items and people who make their own things. We have a gal who makes tables,” he said. “We have people who make things out of reclaimed wood, which is really neat.”
A Penny Carnival, run by the Historical Society, is from 12-2 p.m. July 30 in front of the Historical Society Farmhouse in Stempel parking lot. It’s aimed at kids ages 9 months to 12 years.
“You come with a penny and you get to play and you always get a prize,” he said.
The games are simple and the Penny Carnival will have a vintage crafts table for kids as well. An Appalachian singing group will also be on-site.
“You’re definitely stepping back in time,” she said. “There’s really something for every age.”
Food and drinks will be for sale at Vintage Days. The Lions Club will sell two kinds of sangria (peach and limoncello) and beer from Tighthead Brewing in Mundelein, he said.
Retro musicians include Logan Ramey’s Tribute to Elvis, Ludy and His Lady and Rachel Anne on July 29; and Burnt Biscuits and Low Reen and Friends July 30.
“The Elvis Tribute is going to kick off the event and after that we have Ludy and His Lady, who is very popular in the area and known for his Frank Sinatra style,” she said. “He really sounds like Frank Sinatra. He’s definitely vintage. He will take you back in time. Closing out the night we have Rachel Anne. She has a country vibe. She’ll attract the younger crowd.
“Sunday, we have the Burnt Biscuits that will start after (the church service). They’re very old-timey,” she said. “We close out the event with Low Reen and Friends, our blues band that always rocks it.”
Vintage Days is a unique event unlike anything other towns do, she said.
“People who are into collectibles and old things, you find the thing you maybe had when you were a kid,” he said. “This is where you come for something like that.”
Vintage Days
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 29 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 30
Where: 145 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove
Tickets: Free
Information: longgrove.org/festivals/vintage-days
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.