The Rotary Club of Downers Grove kicks off another fabulous summer festival for the 15th year hosting Rotary GroveFest on June 19-22, 2025 in Downtown Downers Grove. We really enjoy this festival because it’s filled with carnival rides, midway games, an impressive live music line-up, a plethora of delicious food, car show, and Craft Beer Corner in the Beer Garden, featuring two of the top microbreweries in Downers Grove: Alter Brewing and Goldfinger. And this year, Pierce Tavern will be serving a special cocktail, the Peach Bourbon Smash.
The unlimited wristband is the way to go if your kids want to enjoy the rides during the day because there will be 20 popular carnival rides there! You can purchase discounted wristbands online here until June 18, 2025. Not only is Rotary Grove-Fest non-stop fun, it also helps to support the Rotary Club of Downers Grove who gives back to many non-profits in Downers Grove and surrounding areas!
The Information Booth will be located in the intersection of Burlington Avenue and Main Street for any needed information and keep reading for the full schedule and details so you can know before you go.
Rotary GroveFest Hours
Thursday, June 19: 5:00pm โ 10:00pm
Friday, June 20: Noon โ 11:00pm (unlimited ride wristband hours: Noon – 5:00pm)
Saturday, June 21: Noon โ 11:00pm (unlimited ride wristband hours: Noon – 5:00pm)
Sunday, June 22: Noon โ 9:30 pm (Festival of Cars on Warren Avenue 8:00am โ 1:00pm)
The carnival rides will be running during the entire festival, and the unlimited wristband hours are during all open hours on Thursday and Sunday, and noted above for Friday and Saturday.
Rotary GroveFest Carnival and Midway
For those thrill seekers who ride the rides day and night, you will be able to choose from 20 popular rides like the Tilt a Whirl, Ring of Fire, and Pharoahโs Fury, and new this year will be Downdraft, a high-speed circular ride that jumps up and then falls giving riders a feel of strong gravitational and centripetal forces.
You can purchase the unlimited wristbands to use during wristband hours in the section above, or you can pay per ride:
- 20 tickets = $10
- 65 tickets = $30
- 140 tickets = $60
- 240 tickets = $98
- (Rides cost 6-15 tickets per guest)
Children 42″ or taller can ride by themselves; 36-42″ tall need to ride with a paying adult.
Want to know what rides will be there? Here’s a list!
- Berry Go Round
- Bulgy the Whale
- Carousel
- Century Wheel
- Combo Cars
- Cycle Jump
- Disk โO
- Downdraft
- Fire Chief
- Fun Slide
- Pharoahโs Fury
- Rainbow Rock
- Raptor Run
- Ring of Fire
- Rock Star
- Tea Party
- Tilt a Whirl
- Tornado
- Wacky Mouse
- Zero Gravity
Live Music at Rotary GroveFest
The Entertainment and Beer Garden areas will feature an array of talented musicians and has a $5 entry fee for ages 16 and older on Thursday 5-10pm, Friday 4:00-11:00pm, Saturday Noon โ 11:00pm, and Sunday Noon โ 9:30pm.
Thursday, June 19
- 6:15 – 7:45pm โ Blackened
- 8:30 – 10:00pm โ Hello Weekend
Friday, June 20
- 5:00 โ 6:30pm โ Jonny Lyons & The Pride
- 7:15 โ 8:45pm โ Red Roses
- 9:30 โ 11:00pm โ Radio Gaga
Saturday, June 21
- Noon โ 1:30pm โ Eddie Andersen
- 1:30 – 4:30pm โ Dirty Donuts
- 5:00 โ 6:30pm โ Anchors Away
- 7:15 โ 8:45pm โ Hillbilly Rockstarz
- 9:30 – 11:00pm โ 7th heaven
Sunday, June 22
- 12:30 – 1:00pm โ Versafied Dance Company of VERSA5
- 1:00 – 1:15pm โ Bentley Academy of Irish Dance
- 1:45 – 3:00pm โ Garage Band U
- 3:30 – 5:00pm โ Downers Grove South Jazz Sextet
- 5:45 โ 7:15pm โ Semple
- 8:00 โ 9:30pm โ Wedding Banned
Click here to learn more about each band.
Rotary GroveFest Car Show: Festival of Cars
Car enthusiasts can take a stroll through memory lane on Sunday with the free โFestival of Carsโ from 8am until 1pm on Warren Ave. just west of Forest Ave. And for those worried about missing Sunday morning church, don’t worry, you can sit in on the 10:30 am Sunday Morning Service, located in the Entertainment area and provided by the Community Christian Church of Downers Grove.
Rotary GroveFest couldnโt be presented without the large number of Rotary volunteers, community individuals, along with Not-for-Profit Groups. Proceeds from Rotary GroveFest assist the club in their local and international efforts to support local not-for-profits, empower future leaders with scholarships, offer mini grants, and contribute to global initiatives. The tag, “It’s All About Community” resinates with each and every member of the club. You can learn more about the Rotary Club of Downers Grove and becoming a member at https://www.dgrotary.org/
