SUNBURY — School may be back in session, but it’s still summertime, and there are still festivals to go to.
Sunbury’s Sizzle & Sounds Food & Music Festival takes place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the square. It is put on by the Big Walnut Civic Association and consists of volunteers. Last year, between 15,000 to 20,000 people attended, the association said.
Starting at 11 a.m., there will be a kid zone (until 4 p.m.), teen zone (until 11 p.m.), and arts and crafts (until 6 p.m.). There will also be free neighborhood shuttles from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Food trucks will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The entertainment for the day will be Brian “DJ Meeko” D’Amico, Vinntage (with two n’s) at 1:30 p.m., Brother Believe Me at 3:30 p.m., Simba Jordan at 5:30 p.m., Long Play at 7:30 p.m., and headliner LDNL at 9:30 p.m.
“LDNL was our very first headliner,” said a Facebook post from the Civic Association. “They are the most requested headliner.”
The association said that lawn chairs or blankets are welcome for seating on the grass, and no dogs or kids are allowed in the beer garden. Sizzle is rain or shine — the music pauses if needed and resumes once things clear.
In past years, the community could also go to another festival going on at the same time in neighboring Galena, too. However, that won’t be the case this year as Summerfest 2022 was canceled.
“The current political environment in the Village of Galena made it impossible for us to continue in that location,” said Summerfest Chairperson Jeanna Burrell in a Facebook post on June 7.
Summerfest was put on by The Greater Galena Civic Association beginning in 2009 as Galena’s bicentennial celebration. The most recent Summerfest was in 2021.
“We can’t thank our sponsors, vendors, entertainers, and volunteers enough for more than a decade of great festivals,” said Nancy Murphy, president of the association.
