As Last Fling brings summer to an end Labor Day weekend, the Naperville Jaycees have already begun planning the 50th Anniversary Fling in 2015. With roughly 1,008 volunteer shifts and thousands of volunteer hours, the 49th edition is once again power-packed with family fun, food, music, carnival rides and entertainment.
Music
More than 20 bands will be performing at Last Fling on two stages. The Main Stage on Rotary Hill features national acts and is ticketed while the Entertainment Stage along Jackson Ave. featuring local acts is free.
Main Stage
Maggie Speaks and ARRA will perform beginning at 6PM on Friday, August 29. Tickets are $10.
O. A. R. with openers Josh Holmes and Junkyard Groove will perform Saturday night beginning at 4PM. O. A. R. will take the stage at 8PM. Tickets are $20.
Out for Hours, Smash Mouth and Vertical Horizon will take the stage on Sunday beginning at 4PM. Headliner Smash Mouth will perform at 8PM. Tickets are $15.
Jessica Rae and 7th Heaven will round out the Main Stage on Monday afternoon beginning at 1PM with 7th Heaven performing at 3PM. Admission is free.
Entertainment Stage
Two Milwaukee locals kick-off the action on Friday, August 29. The WhiskeyBelles, widely known for their unique take on classic and folk-revival country tunes, will take the stage at 6PM, followed by the ever-popular Pat McCurdy at 8PM. McCurdy’s cabaret-style plays to an adult crowd, covering topics such as lost loves, politics and family vacations.
Entertainment gets jump-started at noon on Saturday, August, 30 with OMT’s varietal set list ranging from Rock to Indie to Country.
Then it’s Twist of Faith’s mix of covers and original Contemporary Christian music at 2PM, followed by Sinister Finch, a West Suburban Rock n’ Roll cover band performing favorites from the 70’s through today, at 4PM.
Love & Money, a Naperville staple, performs their up-tempo covers at 6PM just before Black Cat Bone, a bluesy-tuned local band, takes the stage at 8PM.
The line-up for Sunday, August 31 begins with Live Wire, a well-received all-kids Rock n’ Roll cover group, at 2PM. Phosephene, touted as Chicago’s hottest female-fronted pop rock band, is slated at 4PM.
Rapper CraCajaC performs his fresh and positive sound starting at 6PM. Matthew Curry, who is just off tour with Journey, Steve Miller Band, Peter Frampton and The Doobie Brothers, caps the evening at 8PM.
Chicago Natives, The Mob Rules, will bring high-energy Classic Rock, R&B and Funk to their audience at 1PM on Monday, September 1, just before Rush tribute band, The Ents, close out the festival beginning at 3PM.
These acts will perform at the free Entertainment stage located just inside the event entrance near the intersection of Jackson Ave. and Main St.
Carnival
The Carnival along Jackson Ave. will feature games, rides and dunk tank. Tickets are $1 and most rides are 2-4 tickets. Carnival Mega-Passes are $60 for unlimited rides throughout the weekend. Carnival Deal Day is Saturday from 10AM to 4PM with unlimited rides for $25. Carnival hours are 5:30PM to 11PM Friday, 10AM to 11PM Saturday and Sunday, and 10AM to 6PM Sunday.
Family Fun Land
Family fun land has free admission and features pony rides, petting zoo, bounce town, entertainment stage, craft area and many family friendly activities on the grounds of Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St.
Dove Cameron will appear for a public meet and greet in Family Fun Land, located at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville, 3-5PM on Sunday, August 31. Entrance to Family Fun Land and the meet and greet are free however, meet and greet attendees must have a wristband. Wristbands will be distributed in Family Fun Land beginning at 10am, Sunday, August 31, while supplies last. Must be present to receive wristband.
Family Fun Land Hours are 10AM to 6PM Saturday and Sunday, and 10AM to 5PM Monday.
Bed Races
The Naperville Jaycees have set the time to rise and shine for the 2014 Last Fling Bed Races. Bed Racers will begin their competitive push at 11AM Sat., Aug. 30, on the roadway between Porter Avenue and the Naperville Central High School Parking Lot, just south of Naper Settlement. Touted as one of the most popular attractions to kick off the first full day of the four-day festival, the Bed Races have been canceled for the past two years on account of a stormy forecast and down right rain. Organizers hope the third time is charmed with sunshine so creativity can meet up with safety features for an hour of competitive entertainment, sure to please all ages.
3-Day Schedule of K-9 Competition
At 2PM on Fri., Aug. 29, a “Last Chance Qualifier ” is slated for The Ashley Whippet World Championships. At 9:30AM Sat., Aug. 30, the actual ” Ashley Whippet World Championships” will begin the day-long competition. At 9:30AM Sun., Aug. 31, The UFO North American Cup Championships will be presented. “We are expecting teams from as far away as Amsterdam—she’s 9 years old— and possibly from Asia and the rest of Europe,” said Wehrli. “There will be around 50-70 teams from all over the United States, also.” For more information, contact Tom Wehrli (630) 913-5933.
Parking
Free public shuttles serving Last Fling will run to and from three remote parking locations near the downtown Naperville area, located at Burlington commuter parking lot, southeast corner of 5th Ave. and Washington St.; North Central College, corner of Brainard Street and Highland Ave.; and All Saints Catholic Academy, 1155 Aurora Ave. Shuttles will run approximately every 30 minutes. Shuttle service dates and times vary by location. Visit www.naperville.il.us/lastfling.aspx or www.lastfling.org for service availability.
Shuttles will drop off and pick up Last Fling attendees at the corner of Eagle St. and Aurora Ave. Parking is also available in parking lots and decks throughout downtown Naperville. For more information on parking in downtown Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us/downtownparking.aspx.
Accessible parking for the event on-site will be available at Naper Settlement, the Rotary Hill parking lot located on Aurora Avenue and in the lower level of the Naperville Municipal Center, located at 400 S. Eagle St. Please note that for the duration of the event, the entrance to the Municipal Center parking lot will be off of Webster Street. Off-site accessible parking is also available at All Saints Academy, 1155 Aurora Ave. Accessible shuttle bus service is available at this location approximately every 30 minutes. There is one accessible spot for wheelchairs per bus.
Parade
The Labor Day Parade will step off at 10AM with Mayor Pradel as Grand Marshall. This will be his last Labor Day Parade as Naperville’s Mayor. The Fling Mile race precedes the Parade with a 9:15AM start.
For tickets and info, visit www.lastfling.org.
