Fall On the Green Survival Guide 2013

It’s time for the annual hoisting of the inflatable Jack ‘o Lantern on Cook Avenue for this weekend’s 18th annual Fall On the Green Festival in Oak Lawn.

Fall On the Green has grown into the one of the biggest and most popular outdoor festivals in the Southland, traditionally falling on the first weekend after Labor Day in September.

The 2013 edition runs Friday through Sunday, Sept. 6, 7 and 8, on the Village Green at 95th Street and Cook Avenue. Admission and rides are entirely free.

Patch will be popping in and posting photos and updates throughout the weekend, so check back often.

We’ve got your band and food court lineups, ATM locations and other tips to make Fall On the Green 2013 more enjoyable without ending up in the Patch police blotter.

DOWNLOAD the brochure to Fall On the Green 2013.

We’re sorry to report that there will no bathtub racers for the kids this year. The racers lost their charge by the time Sunday rolled around, when usually only one bathtub racer was working. But other fest favorites will return -- like last summer’s popular water pond and giant plastic bubbles in the teen area -- the mechanical bull ride and climbing wall.

Also making a comeback: a whole slew of giant inflatables and bouncy things, a Ferris wheel and other amusement rides.

The Rundown:

• Times: 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, Sept. 6; 11-midnight, Saturday, Sept. 7; and 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 8.

• Parking/shuttle bus: Free parking is available at the Oak Lawn Metra Station parking tower at 95th Street and Museum Drive. A free shuttle bus courtesy of the Village of Oak Lawn will leave every quarter hour beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Board the bus next to the train station parking tower.

• Food: Bring your appetite to Fall on the Green’s Hawk Ford Food Court featuring a wide selection of fair food including hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian sausage, Italian Beef, Polish sausage, pizza, Chinese specialties, boneless rib sandwiches, gyros, shish kabobs, ice cream and desserts. What fest would be complete without cotton candy, nachos, corndogs and elephant ears. Soft drinks also are available.

• Adult beverages: Stop by the Budweiser Beer Garden for your favorite domestic, microbrews and wine. Watch the games on big screen TVs, buy raffle tickets and enjoy live music.

• Arts and Crafts: Get in some early holiday shopping in the Country Financial Arts and Crafts area held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at its new location near the Masonic Temple. The show features some of the finest crafters and artisans in the Midwest.

• Children’s Activities: Kids won’t get bored when the see the array of children’s activities in the Mancari Children’s Area, including games, inflatable rides, face painting, a tattoo parlor.

• Teen Activities: The Republic Services teen area features tthe water ball pond, climbing wall, zip line, mechanical bull and new attraction, the Wrecking Ball -- perfect for working out pre-teen angst.  

• Business tent: Learn why it’s best to shop in Oak Lawn by visiting the Business Tent featuring many the village’s vibrant small businesses and other fine area vendors.

• Entertainment: The music is non-stop at Fall On the Green’s in the Budwesier Beer Garden, Gazebo and the Environmental Clean Corp Main Stage. There is a genre for every musical taste in your family, from alternative rock and country, to rock covers and Bon Jovi tribute bands.

What’s New this Year:

• Oak Lawn Rotary will be adding Kettle Corn in addition to corn on the cob and dipping dots in Booth 5 in the Hawk Ford Food Court. A Fall On the Green icon.
  

• Book Worm Cafe owners Andy Vaipkus and Nancy Jensen will be serving up Andy’s award-winning roast beef sandwiches, turkey legs and other pub grub in booth 14 in the Hawk Ford Food Court.

Da Bands:

FRIDAY SEPT. 6

• Wild Daisy (country), Beer Garden, 6-7:30 p.m.

• Maggie Speaks (cover band), Main Stage, 7:30-10 p.m.

• Rendition (pop/rock), Beer Garden, 10 p.m.-midnight

SATURDAY SEPT. 7

• Kennedy Compound (rock), Beer Garden, noon-1:30 p.m.

• The Walk-Ins (party music), Main Stage, 1:30-3 p.m.

• South of Disorder (Jimmy Buffet tribute band), Beer Garden, 3-4:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 8

• Sean and Charlie (rock covers), Main Stage, noon-2 p.m.

• Special Consensus (blue grass), Beer Garden, 2-4:30 p.m.

• CTA (Chicago tribute), Main Stage, 4:30-7 p.m.

• Slippery When Wet (Bon Jovi tribute), 7-8:30 p.m.