November 10, 2024
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Oswego’s Wine on the Fox and other community events to return this year

Plans shaping up for several events that were canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic

By Shea Lazansky

FILE PHOTO: Crowds line up to taste wine during the annual Wine on the Fox festival at Hudson Crossing Park in Oswego in May, 2017. (Shaw Media)

A number of popular community events in Oswego that were canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be held this year, according to Village President Troy Parlier.

During his March 3 State of the Village address, Parlier confirmed the return of community celebrations like Wine on the Fox, the Christmas Walk, Lunafest, Coffee and Conversations, and Coffee with the Mayor.

“It was very important in a year like this year, we had to rally the community,” Parlier said. “We had to give some sense of normalcy back to our residents. It just had to happen.”

Wine on the Fox will be held May 1 and 2 this year, Parlier said, adding, “We’re going to get back to what we used to be.”

The popular event was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

A new event, dubbed “Oswego Honors Veterans,” will run from May 21 through May 31, and as its name indicates, will honor veterans in the Oswego area.

The event was originally planned for 2020, but was delayed due to the pandemic. This year’s celebration will feature musical performances, car shows and the Mid-East Conflict Wall - for the first time outside of the state of Oregon.

Movies at the Venue, a popular 2020 event, will be held in 2021 at the future home of the Oswego Entertainment Venue along Orchard Road.

Other scheduled events include fireworks for the Fourth of July, the return of the Lunafest film festival in August, and the Christmas Walk on Dec. 3.

Parlier also announced the return of Coffee with the Mayor and Coffee and Conversations, events where community members can meet with Parlier and ask him questions.

Several additional events, made popular during 2020 and the pandemic, will return this year, according to Parlier. He announced the return of drive-around scavenger hunts, beginning March 14 with a St. Patrick’s Day themed hunt. The village-sponsored pumpkin pick-up will return to the site of the entertainment venue Oct. 17, along with the Christmas Walk Drive-Through Dec. 10, also at the entertainment venue site.

Holiday care-a-vans and neighborhood care-a-vans are also expected to return in 2021, Parlier said, though dates and times have not yet been announced.

In a related matter, Oswegoland Park District officials previously announced that PrairieFest, the community’s largest festival held annually on Father’s Day weekend in June, will be held this year over Labor Day weekend in September.