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Willow Fest brings the blues, sets aside quiet time for sensory sensitive people

Willow Fest brings the blues, sets aside quiet time for sensory sensitive people

Chicago Tribune4 days ago
This year's Willow Fest in Willow Springs combines two festivals — the longtime west suburban summertime celebration Willow Fest and the newer Blues Fest, which debuted a few years ago.
The festival begins July 24 and wraps up July 27 and the addition of the blues doesn't mean any of the longtime fan favorites of Willow Fest are going anywhere. The popular event draws thousands of attendees and this year, event organizers say they expect another packed downtown.
As always, the four-day event will still kick off with a car show.
'We have 120 to 180 classic cars,' said village administrator Ryan Grace.
Beyond the cars the festival has food, vendors and music each and every day, starting with the popular Chicagoland Beatles tribute band, American English as the Thursday headliner.
Friday is the big night for country and classic rock fans, with Billy Gray, a country act steeped in tradition, taking the stage at 6:30 p.m. and then Infinity at 9 p.m. Infinity started as a Journey tribute band but, over the years, the Chicago-based group has become a popular all-around classic rock tribute outfit.
Saturday is the first full day of the fest and it kicks off with something a little quieter.
From 10 a.m. until noon, Grace said the festival is open to attendees with disabilities and among those disabilities, people with sensory issues.
'That's free and it's for anyone with disabilities and it's no sound and low lights,' he said. This is one the few summer fairs with a time set aside for sensory-sensitive people, and he said it draws about 100 people and it's always popular.
'It's something our mayor is adamant that we do,' Grace said. 'We get volunteers from our Lions and Lioness Clubs. It's a fun part of the carnival for us.'
Saturday is also the blues day, and Willow Fest organizers let the Windy City Blues Society take the reins. As soon as the quiet part's over—the blues music begins.
'That's from lunchtime until the show ends at 11 p.m.,' Grace explained.
The whole music lineup for that day can be found at https://windycityblues.org but the headliner Saturday are the Cinelli Brothers—two Italian brothers and their London-based blues band.
Sunday, the event winds down with another day of music. The last band is Arra, another classic rock tribute band and then, as is tradition, fireworks put the cap on another Willow Fest.
The festival is headquartered at 1 Village Circle, in the heart of Willow Springs.
'We've just recently redone the grounds. We've paved every road down here with permeable brick pavers,' explained Grace. 'And we just wrapped that up.'
Just in time for Willow Fest.
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Astronomer hires Gwyneth Paltrow with a wink after 'kiss cam' viral video

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Days of Our Lives Recap: Marlena Collapses in Court

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Days of Our Lives Recap: Marlena Collapses in Court

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36 Fashion Items If You're The Stylish Friend
36 Fashion Items If You're The Stylish Friend

Buzz Feed

time3 hours ago

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36 Fashion Items If You're The Stylish Friend

A leopard print satin maxi skirt you'd choose as your one and only outfit if you were a cartoon. You'd for sure be the fashionable one on the show. Promising review: "The satin fabric feels luxurious and drapes beautifully, giving it an elegant and timeless look. The fit is true to size, perfect for dressing up for special occasions or pairing with a cozy sweater for a chic everyday look. The quality is impressive for the price, and it holds up well after washing. Highly recommend if you're looking for a versatile and stylish piece for your wardrobe!" —Tammy sturgeonGet it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in sizes S–3XL and 34 other styles). A Roberto Cavalli x Skims tie waist one piece because, I mean, hellooooo?! I-freakin-conic. They really ate this collab, I my wallet is in fear, cuz I need it all. I HAD to have something from this collection. I don't have this particular swimsuit, but I do have the triangle top and tie bottoms in this pattern and can tell you that it's absolutely gorgeous. I'm obsessed. Prepare to be sick of it from Skims for $190 (available in sizes L–4X and two patterns). A waist chain, since you're all about the details. This is gonna look soooo hot all summer long, omg, send me the pics, bestie. Promising review: "I wanted to try out waist chains as they're so freaking cute. This exceeded my expectations. It's so cute, and such a pretty color. I picked silver cause I feel like it looks better on my skin tone. Product honestly looks just like the picture. I love how it fits so perfectly and how you can adjust the size accordingly. It's honestly way cuter than I expected. —Julianna it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three sizes and 12 styles). A Telfar ribbed maxi skirt because it's literally impossible not to look iconic when wearing Telfar. I mean, this skirt is *literal* proof, look at it. I don't even need to say anything else. And thank goodness, cuz this skirt has me it's in my cart *bites finger*. Telfar is a Black-owned NYC-based unisex line founded in 2005 by Telfar Clemens with the tagline "Not for you, for everyone."*Be sure to check out the size chart to figure out your size! It's unisex sizes, so where I'd normally wear a large in bottoms, I wear a small with Telfar. Get it from Telfar for $198 (available in sizes 2XS–2XL and four colors). An absolutely darling romper with a ruffled bottom and strappy back 😍 — it's so cute, I can't stand it. Get it from White Fox for $74.99 (available in sizes XXS–XL and three colors). A fabulous maxi dress because it literally looks like it'd be worn by Ariana Madix to the villa firepit to deliver the most chaotic news ever to the islanders. Cue the crash outs. Promising review: "My favorite clothing item I own. It's seriously perfect. I sized down and it was the right decision. Buy it if you're thinking about it!" —Lea it from Outcast for $84 (available in sizes XXS–L). A stunning satin mini dress with a watercolor print and drawstring ruching that looks like it belongs in your suitcase on a trip to Italy. Promising review: "The vintage style of this fitted dress truly elevates my wardrobe. Quality fabric and elegant look!" —C***sGet it from Micas for $42 (available in sizes XS–3XL). A maxi dress that'll have you ready to board a plane the second you try it on. Aruba, anyone? This dress deserves some sunset beach pics in another country. Promising review: "So cute and has some stretch! I bought this dress for my upcoming vacation and can't wait to wear it!" —caylee it from Outcast for $149 (available in sizes XXS–XL and three colors). A pair of rimless sunglasses because it's scientifically proven that you can't *not* feel fierce while wearing I totally made that up, but throw on a pair of sunglasses and tell me you don't feel totally fabulous. Promising review: "Stylish must-have! I recently snagged a pair of Y2K Sunglasses, and they're my new obsession! These shades boast a chic Y2K-inspired design that's both trendy and comfortable. With lightweight frames and adjustable nose pads, they're perfect for all-day wear. Plus, they're incredibly versatile, complementing any outfit effortlessly. Made with quality materials, these sunglasses are durable and offer excellent UV protection. In summary, the Y2K Sunglasses are a stylish must-have accessory that adds flair to any look. Trust me, you won't regret adding them to your collection —PavlovGet it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in five colors). A denim patchwork bodysuit that should just clock in for the summer, cuz you'll def be putting this cutie to work. Job — serving. I have this!! I got it for Cowboy Carter and am so excited to wear it. It's so cute and looks exactly like the pics, *thank goodness*. I created my entire look for the concert based on this bodysuit, and let me just tell y'all, I'm bout to eat, chomp, gobble, and chew. This was my first purchase with the brand, and I'll surely be putting in tons more orders. Get it from Micas for $28 (available in sizes XS–3XL and two colors). A scarf to help you get that vintage Hollywood look. This + sunglasses?! You're gonna be unstoppable. Get it from White Fox for $29.99 (available in one size fits all). A midi dress and cardigan set so stunning, you'll be stopped every five minutes with questions about where you got it. Rebdolls is a Latine- and woman-owned small biz that makes clothes with plenty of bold colors and fun it from Rebdolls for $79.90 (available in sizes S–5X and two colors). A knit halter dress that'll have everyone kinda nervous when you enter a room because you'll look like a bombshell entering the villa, coming to steal everybody's partner. Promising review: "I purchased this dress for my vacation to Aruba. I absolutely love it. It's so soft and adjustable that it fits me perfectly. Say yes to this dress. I feel stunning in it." —Tammy vigilGet it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in sizes XS–XL and six colors). A denim Telfar bag because stylish and Telfar are basically synonyms. I mean, I know y'all saw Beyoncé's denim Telfeezy look. The contrast stitching, adjustable and removable straps, the front pocket with card slotssss (!!!), I'm salivating. This bag is teeeaaaaa. Okay, let me enter the chat. Hey besties! My birthday just passed, and when I say I spoiled myself, I truly, TRULY mean it. My wallet is still side-eying me, like, *girl, can you stop, please*. My mood the entire month of June was ~whatever you want, you beautiful, perfect little princess~ so when I got the email about this bag, my card was out quicker than Taylor from Love Island switched up on my girl Olandria. But I don't have a single regret cuz it's now my favorite purse. There's just so much space, and as a girl, that's amazing. None of my clothes ever have pockets, and I am just extremely fond of itty bitty purses that only fit a lip gloss and my ID. I almost don't know what to do with myself cuz I have so much room for stuff. I squeal every time I look at it, like it's my baby. I'm so excited to pair it with my Cowboy Carter fit (for pics, I know I can't bring it into the venue). It's worth every cent that I spent, and I will forever stand on though I need a new tire. But be so real, a tire or a Telfar bag for my birthday, likeee?! Pfttt, forget my tire, lol. I'm literally just a girl. *Calls my father*.Get it from Telfar for $280. A crochet mini dress that *is not* lined, but still isn't see-through! The cutout waist and ruffled hem make this cutie extremely hard to resist. Aw, forget it, get in the cart, babe. Get it from Outcast for $135 (available in sizes XXS–XL and two colors). A set of 68 stacking rings in different sizes that'll give you endless jewelry combos to create. Promising review: "Run, do not walk, and scoop this up. There is such an incredible variety of rings — different styles and sizes — that there is something for everyone. The rings are well-made. High quality. Definitely would buy again!" —JamieGet them from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in six different sets). A crochet beach dress because you're def not a *big T-shirt and shorts cover up* kinda person. If you plan to look absolutely fabulous every moment of the day, this is a look that'll help you totally devour your beach day. Get it from Boohoo for $31 (originally $84; available in sizes S–L). A pair of Western-style knee-high sandals with a gladiator silhouette that'll have everyone dying to know where you got them. Promising review: "Love the color, although I was skeptical at first. But I can wear these with practically anything! The heel is not too high or skinny, so they are extremely comfortable." —Bositta them from Akira for $119.90 (available in sizes 5.5–11). A leopard and lace maxi dress cuz nothing says fierce like a little bit of growl power (shoutout to The Cheetah Girls). The brand is worn by celebrities like Tyla and Doja Cat, and has even been worn by Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie) on an episode of Euphoria! Get it from for $95 (originally $169; available in sizes XS–M). A 25-pack of nose cuffs to match your aesthetic without having to face any more needles. So many cute designs, you'll definitely be obsessed with these. Promising review: "My friends are now obsessed! Gave so many people the link to these because they're very stylish. I have both sides of my nose pierced, but hate changing the studs out. This is so easy to slide on and off, I don't even need the piercing at this point." —Kay FinesseGet them from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in seven different sets). A pair of flowy pants, a summer must-have for creating all kinds of looks — cozy, cute, casual, dressy, beachy, and basically any other summer look you can think of. Promising review: "Seriously, love these pants, and I can't tell you how many compliments I get on them. They're linen and they're perfect for summer. I can go to a business meeting or go out with the girls. I have three colors now. —Kelly FajardoGet them from Amazon for $29.69 (available in sizes XS–XL and 15 colors). A butterfly top because the early 2000s was such an iconic time in fashion. Okay, maybe not the skirts over jeans, but there were def some gems! Get it from Akira for $69.90 (available in one size). A crossover crop top with keyhole cutouts that you'll surely get your money's worth out of, cuz once you put it on, you'll wanna wear it nonstop. Get it from Rebdolls for $24.43 (originally $34.90; available in sizes S–5X). An asymmetrical top + skort set that def gives ~mamacita~ vibes *looks at Nic from Love Island*. Promising review: "I'm thrilled with this curve skirt set! The fitted style is incredibly cute, and the fabric offers just enough stretch for all-day comfort. Perfect for a casual spring outing, I felt both stylish and confident in it!" —C***aGet it from Micas for $42 (originally $48; available in sizes XS–3XL and two colors). A tie-front mini dress with metallic chain straps for a look that says *I'm barely trying today, but still am the most stylish one in the room*. Ya know, just a casual slay. Promising review: "I wore this fitted mini dress to a casual summer picnic and felt so comfortable all day. The mid-stretch fabric really hugs my curves without feeling constricting. Love the quality!" —s***hGet it from Micas for $62 (available in sizes XS–3XL and three colors). A Telfar track skirt that'll have you sitting on the product page for hours because you won't be able to choose a color and are tempted to buy one of each. It's me, I'm describing myself. Heheeee, back again, lol. Yep, I bought this too. I told y'all I spoiled myself. I bought this in the store on a trip to New York as another birthday gift to myself, cuz why not? It's SOOOO cute. I have Telfar bags but hadn't bought clothes yet, and Telfar's clothes honestly run very small *because* remember, they're a unisex store. I can switch between medium and large normally for other brands, but for Telfar, I'm a small in bottoms and an extra small in tops. I was literally so confused when the employee kept telling me I should try a small (because, sir, do you see all this booty?!), but shout out to him cuz he was spot on. This skirt is of such great quality, I just know that I'm not even gonna eat food in this skirt. I'm a clumsy mess, and I refuse to spill anything on this; I'd crash out so bad. The light blue is so cutesy, it's perfect. I'm obsessed with my skirt, and I promise I'll get pics soon. I've been ridiculously busy, and planning outfits for a billion other things I've had to do, but I have so many plans for this skirt. Now let me get off this product page because the longer I look, the more I realize I need this in chocolate and cream, it from Telfar for $135 (available in sizes XS–2XL and nine colors). A keyhole bodysuit for 'fits that require a plain, solid-color top. Even your *plain* is a step above the ordinary in style. Get it from Rebdolls for $20.93 (originally $29.90; available in sizes S–5X). A bodycon maxi dress you'll wanna wear on every summer vacay. It's perfect for an outdoor lunch or even to impersonate a famous pop star on a trip to Italy while Paolo tells you that "you shine with the light from the sun." Promising review: "It's stunning, breathtaking, and beautiful. It was love at first sight when I saw it. It's worth every penny! It makes you feel like a goddess! I got all the compliments! I'm definitely buying this dress in different prints. 🥰" —Kia HowardGet it from Amazon for $49.98+ (available in sizes XS–XXL and 12 colors). A ruffled dress made from chiffon fabric for a light, airy feel. It has an adjustable lace-up front and tie cuffs on the sleeves, which will make it that much harder to resist wearing it every day. Get it from Boohoo for $34 (originally $68; available in sizes 12–24). A maxi skirt with a super high slit that'll have you feelin' the heck outta yourself. 👏👏👏 as you should, honestly. Get it from Rebdolls for $31.43 (originally $44.90; available in sizes S–5X). A dramatic ruffled gown because one thing everyone can expect from you is that you'll show up overdressed, looking like you belong on the cover of a magazine. Snag this if you want everyone to look at you like when Cinderella entered the ball. The pics in this are gonna EEEEAT — I'm talkin' three-course meal style. Promising review: "Vibrant, stunning, and eye-catching. Also, the most comfortable thing you'll put on. I bought this for a beach vacation with fancy dinners, for which I knew I wanted comfort above all else. I was stopped repeatedly for compliments, and I felt so comfortable. Perfect with flats or heels due to the high-low construction, belted or flowy (I opted for flowy), the dress is lined for whatever undergarments you choose. I am adding to my collection now. If this comes out in green, I'll have to add another to my collection!" —Ashley TGet it from Eloquii for $189+ (originally $279.95; available in sizes 14–28 and four colors) A pair of tie-up shorts so cute, they'll have the rest of your closet feeling the favoritism. Promising review: "I absolutely fell in love with these shorts! The fit is impeccable, and they hold their shape beautifully. Perfect for casual outings!" —K***nGet it from Micas for $40 (originally $42; available in sizes S–XL). A tooth gem kit since you love to bedazzle literally everything. Super cute trend that'll make your smile *even more* dazzling. You'll get cotton rolls, micro applicator brushes, gems, two bottles of glue and cleansing gel, gems, a gem picker, and a mini LED light. I have these and they're so cute! I personally was skeptical, so I didn't cure them too long because I only wanted them on my teeth for the day. They ended up being perfect and fell off before the end of the day (which was what I wanted). I'm sure if you're interested in keeping them on for longer than a day, you just cure it for longer. I just knew that I wanted them off the same day, so I only cured them for about 30 seconds. The glue came right off with the gem! I also bought other gems, like the butterfly pictured, and they worked just fine!Get it from Amazon for $32. A tie-strap mini dress, a simple slay, but still oh so cute. Just looking at it makes me wanna twirl around like a fairy. Get it from Rebdolls for $34.93 (originally $49.90; available in sizes S–5X). A totally adorable button-down halter and shorts set you'll definitely need a zillion pics in. This set will have you actually looking forward to doing laundry, just so you can wear it again. Get it from Cider for $49.90 (available in sizes 2–10 and two colors). A pair of cowboy boots for anyone who plans to dress like they're going to the rodeo all spring and summer long. You're gonna wanna lasso up a few of these in different colors. Promising review: "These are my most worn boots. Particularly in the spring and summer. They are incredibly comfortable and look so cute with mini skirts and dresses." —Hannah henegarGet them from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in sizes 5–11, wide fits, and nine colors).

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