Live music, a car show, bouncy houses, laser tag, street festival, parade, a cornhole tournament, beer gardens, a WINGS cook-off and more are in store for attendees at Wakefield’s annual celebration, WAKEFEST, on Aug. 17! The fun starts running at 8 a.m. and doesn’t stop until later that evening after attendees have danced the night away to live music and had their fill of delicious wings. “There really is something for everyone,” say organizers, “whether they want to stroll the streets and shop at our vendor faire, let the kids play the day away at our awesome kids’ activities, or enjoy some great music and delicious wings – a fun time is just waiting to be had."
WAKEFEST kicks off with the Michael Foods annual Color Run and the WAKEFEST free-will donation breakfast starting at 8 a.m. at the Wakefield Fire Hall. At 10 a.m. a parade will make its way from Graves Park to downtown Wakefield – just in time for The WAKEFEST Street Festival which includes an old fashioned Tractor Pedal Pull contest. Adults can enjoy the food, craft, and small business vendors, partake in the beer garden, check out the car show, and participate in the Cornhole Tournament.
The car show will start at noon, and will be on Second and Main Streets. The cornhole tournament will also be on Main Street, and will begin at 1 p.m.
The Tractor Pedal Pull will begin at 2 p.m. and will take place at the BankFirst parking lot.
The evening continues the fun, with live music starting at 4:30 p.m. Featured musical guests include Ted and Alice Miller, Hillbilly Deluxe, and Reinvented Wheels. The night is headlined by Omaha's Soulful Xperience, who will be performing a variety of classic hits by Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, The Jackson Five, and more!
Shortly after the music begins, appetites will be fulfilled with the WING Cook-Off and BBQ Meal beginning at 5 p.m.
Tickets for the WINGS Cook-off, Live Music, and gated beer gardens are $20 if purchased prior to Aug. 17. (Tickets will be available the day of the event for $25.) Kids’ Activity bracelets can be purchased for $5, for unlimited access to bouncy houses, laser-tag, and the game truck. No tickets are required to attend the daytime portion of the event.
WAKEFEST is presented in collaboration between Wakefield Community Club and the Wakefield Fire Department, with funds raised going towards the support of the Fire & Rescue Squad. The event is sponsored in part by Michael Foods, Sidelines Bar & Grille, Security Bank, Nick’s Wood Shop, The Dixon County Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Wayne County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
A full and detailed listing of WAKEFEST activities, and access to purchase tickets to paid portions of the event can be found at www.wakefieldcommunityclub.com.
