Keepataw Days Festival, Lemont, Illinois

When my husband came home and told me about the Keepataw Days Festival in Downtown Lemont, IL I wondered what exactly he was talking about. Since moving to Chicago over a year and half ago everything seems to be an adventure and this was just another trip we could add to the list of things we could see and do. Since my father was in the military until I was twenty-two I was a world class traveler with over a million miles under my belt so visiting a small town for a bit of fun and culture was right up my alley.

Keepataw Days Festival

The Keepataw Days Festival offered something for everybody who was looking to have a pleasant day with their family. The festival was held in downtown Lemont and rides, games and food vendors were set up in the Metra Parking lot.

Rides & Games

There were several rides for adults and children alike. There were quite a few rides we couldn't go on because my three year old was too small but the small dragon roller coaster, big slide and the airplanes were perfect for both of my children. They enjoyed these thoroughly and rode them several times.

The games were traditional carnival games but my children are now old enough to understand how to play some of them. Their favorite was the duck-in-water game. The ducks are in a rotating pool of water and each one is numbered on the bottom. The object is to choose three ducks with the highest number to win a prize, but of course, you're not sure which has the highest number so it's all a matter of chance. The nice thing about this game was even if three ducks were chosen with a grand total of three; you still won a prize.

Food

Yes, the food. I love carnival food so this was a treat. Just like other fairs the Keepataw Days Festival had an assortment of cotton candy, funnel cakes and elephant ears but I noticed its mains source of "entree meals" were unlike other fairs. At most fairs I have seen an abundance of pizza, burgers, and peppers & sausage and Philly cheese steaks. The Keepataw Days Festivals main item was pork with boneless rib sandwiches and pulled pork sandwiches and my favorite and most unusual; the pork chop on a stick.

This pork-chop-on-a-stick is exactly how it sounds. It's a piece of pork tenderloin that is cut between two and three inches, grilled and put onto a stick; just like a corn dog. Although I did not have one they looked wonderful and intriguing.

Surrounding Town

My husband and I decided to ride around the quaint downtown Lemont area only to be saddened by its sad state of affairs. The once thriving community of residential area turned business buildings were boarded and shut down. Small businesses that once offered small town niceties and history were no longer open to the public.

On the other hand, the Greater Chicago Hindu temple rests on the hilltop and it's glorious. The view of the temple is picturesque and awe inspiring. People from all walks of life were walking and taking pictures of the temple. There were people who were entering for worship while others sat along the hillside and just looked out over the city of Lemont.

Cost:

The cost was $20 for an armband and that would cover unlimited rides. Tickets could also be purchased and most of the rides were between two to three tickets.