Bridge updates
April 23rd, 2020April 21, 2020 Email Newsletter
April 21st, 2020Chocolate Fest 2020 Canceled Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
March 23rd, 2020Long Grove, IL – March 23, 2020 – One of the Northwest suburb’s biggest festivals, the annual Chocolate Fest in downtown Long Grove, has been canceled this year due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The event organizer, the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association (HDLGBA), is postponing the annual celebration held in mid-May to 2021.
“It’s with a heavy heart that we will not be holding the annual Chocolate Festival this year,” said HDLGBA Marketing Chair Terri Taylor. “Although there is still a lot of uncertainty in regards to how long this crisis will play out, it’s our responsibility to take all preventative measures to ensure the health and safety of all attendees, sponsors, volunteers and staff. We realize this news will cause many sad faces, however it’s vital we all do our part in helping slow the spread of this virus.”
The 3-day celebration of chocolate, music and family fun draws tens of thousands annually to Long Grove’s historic district, an area which was recently renovated to attract more tourists. Programmers of Chocolate Fest, Ravenswood Special Events, also program Long Grove’s two other major annual festivals, Strawberry Fest in June and Apple Fest in September. The HDLGBA was not prepared at this time to announce cancellations for those big events, however they did recently announce cancellations of Long Grove’s annual Egg Hunt on April 4th and Craft Beer Fest on April 25th due to the pandemic.
“Chocolate Fest will return bigger and sweeter in 2021,” continued Taylor, who added that the HDLGBA is still planning to host other exciting activities this year including Vintage Days in August and Halloween Town in October. “We’d like to thank everyone who makes Chocolate Fest possible year after year, including our sponsors, volunteers, vendors and all the chocolatiers.”
The website www.longgrove.org is regularly posting information about other upcoming Long Grove festivals and businesses.
Contact:
Jody Grimaldi
Grimaldi Public Relations
630.470.0044
jody@grimaldipr.com
December thank you
November 11th, 2019Together in Paving the Way to a Brighter Future
Dear Residents of Long Grove,
We appreciate your grit and enduring patience in 2019. It’s been another year of putting up with red cones, construction trucks, and road closures. Yet we stayed the course and maintained our focus on the mission – bridging Long Grove’s timeless charms with updated amenities. As we approach the completion of the downtown renovation project, thanks to the big investments made by the Village and Lake County, we can see our promising future becoming just as evident as our storied past. Upgrades all around us including new streets, sewers, lighting, public water and sidewalks are paving the way for the next generation of business owners. A diverse commercial landscape investing in new and improved facilities and tax incentives is pumping fresh economic life. But the allure doesn’t stop with business prosperity. Long Grove continues to be considered one of the best places in the country to raise a family.
In 2019, the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association continued to fundraise through its annual Long Grove festival and community event programming continued – raising tens of thousands of dollars to benefit downtown revitalization projects and drive tourism and regional awareness. That said, we still need you, local residents, to support our business neighbors by shopping and dining in downtown Long Grove. They rely on your regular, ongoing patronage for continued growth and success. As we look ahead to 2020, besides some finishing touches to the new infrastructure, you can expect to see the resurrection of the iconic Long Grove Covered Bridge and a brand-new downtown park where we can sit back and relish in all the beauty and charm that surrounds us daily.
Through the rubble our “destination town” status has re-emerged. As we begin this new chapter of our century-old tale, we’re excited for the prospect of tomorrow. Again, thank you for a remarkable 2019, where cooperation and foresight have been vital. We’re all in this together…
Sincerely,
The Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association
September
September 26th, 2019With its colorful, vintage buildings and structures casting an ideal backdrop, historic downtown Long Grove proudly presented another year of its famous Irish Days festival to kick off September! All eyes were smiling over Labor Day weekend once again for the 3-day family-friendly celebration of Irish culture, music, merchants, food and of course, beer. Visitors strolled the town’s brand new walkways and enjoyed bagpipers, folk bands, and Irish dancers and contests.
This one-of-a-kind St. Patrick’s Day on Labor Day experience took place in the heart of town, Fountain Square, and included some of Chicago’s top Irish musicians and dance troupes, such as: The Tooles, Beamish, The Shannon Rovers Bagpipe Band, Trinity Irish Dancers, Academy of Irish Music, and many more. Thousands turned out to take in the sights and sounds at Irish Days. Those who attended were even privy to the infamous Irish Dog Competition, where pooches who dressed the part were crowned Irish Doggie King, Queen, Prince and Princess, and the Best-Looking Men’s Legs in a Kilt contest – always a crowd favorite!
Irish food vendors like Celtic Pretzel and Harrington’s Catering and Deli were on hand to fuel visitors with hand-made pretzels, hot corned beef sandwiches, fish and chips, and other traditional foods. Additionally, there was an area selling freshly tapped Irish-themed beers and non-alcoholic drinks to quench thirsts young or old. While the “Wee Ones” area hosted Irish-themed crafts and face-painting for kids, the Gaelic Tent promoted awareness of the Irish language and genealogy.
August
September 26th, 2019While its storied past still radiates, downtown Long Grove’s promising future is now just as evident as the town-wide restoration plan continues. New roads, sidewalks, and lighted streetscapes are paving the way for a new generation of businesses while rejuvenating beloved mainstays. Long Grove’s mission of bridging yesterday’s timeless charms with today’s modern conveniences were well represented at the 2019 Vintage Days market.
For the 4th consecutive year, Long Grove Vintage Days showcased all things vintage, reclaimed, hand-made, upcycled, antique and repurposed in an open-air summer marketplace this August. As always, Vintage Days gave everyone from the vintage collector to the admirer a plethora of enduring products they can’t find anywhere else. This year’s event was showcased along the newly renovated Old McHenry Road in the heart of downtown – giving record breaking crowds a feel for the new digs.
Guests perused 40-plus featured booths that began at Olivia’s Boutique and continued through downtown past the Visitor’s Center. Attendees also had their choice of vendors serving food, snacks and tasty beverages including local craft beer served by the Long Grove Lion’s Club. Helping set the retro vibe at Vintage Days 2019 throughout the weekend was live music, a penny carnival, complimentary tractor rides and great shopping!
