Families are invited to say farewell to summer at Elgin’s annual End of Summer Bash, set for Saturday, Aug. 9, from 4 to 9 p.m. at Festival Park, 132 S. Grove Ave.

The free, family-friendly event will transform Festival Park into a prehistoric playground, featuring life-sized dinosaurs, a live volcano, and a variety of interactive attractions and performances. Highlights include a magic show, reptile show, baby dino pets, jugglers, balloon artists, LED mini golf, bounce houses, a giant LED Lite-Brite, fossil digging, slime crafting and oversized yard games.

Live music will be featured throughout the evening, with performances by Semple Band—led by The Voice finalist Keith Semple—and EZ Band, a genre-blending group known for their viral performances and multicultural sound.

Up to 20 local and regional food vendors will be on site, offering classic festival fare, international dishes, desserts and beverages. A dedicated Community Partner Zone will also provide guests with the opportunity to connect with local organizations and learn about available services and resources.

Drone Show: The evening closes out with the return of the popular drone show! Watch, as 200 drones take to the sky promptly at 9 p.m. and create amazing 3D images of dinosaurs!

Admission is free, and free parking is available throughout downtown Elgin. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. For updates, including weather-related changes, follow the city of Elgin’s Facebook page or visit elginil.gov/specialevents.

Organizations interested in participating as a community partner or food vendor can contact the Special Events team at specialevents@elginil.gov.

The End of Summer Bash is presented by the city of Elgin with support from the Elgin Breakfast Rotary Club, McNally’s Heating and Cooling, Modelo and Volo Auto Museum.