McHenry's Fiesta Days to feature KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, slew of entertainment

This isn’t your mother’s face-painting. Unless she was a fan of KISS.

In honor of a July 11 performance by KISS lead guitarist and “Space Man” Ace Frehley at Fiesta Days in McHenry, organizers are encouraging festival-goers to partake in some KISS-inspired face-painting offered at the festival. And by all means, play up the heavy metal scene by dressing the part, they say.

KISS rose to prominence in the 1970s, the band’s extreme makeup, tight black leather, comic book-style costumes and fire-breathing, blood-spitting, smoking-guitar performances drawing millions of fans.

Now touring solo and having released the new album, “Gimme a Feeling,” Frehley is one of numerous acts to be featured as part of one of the largest festivals in Illinois.

Fiesta Days runs July 10-19 throughout McHenry with all the usual festivities – food, drink, a carnival, parade, Big Wheels Race, ice cream social, car show, arts & crafts and of course, live music.

[ McHenry Fiesta Days schedule of events ]

With Frehley, Stephen Pearcy of Ratt and Sam Llanas, formerly of the BoDeans, organizers boast three national acts this year, up from two last year and one in previous years.

They rely on input from social media, including fans of the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page, chamber President Kay Bates said.

“We look for a variety,” she said. “We usually like to have something that is a little bit more of an appeal to our Millennials as well as our Generation X’s, who have always been a good stand-by for us. On Sunday, we will do a little more with Baby Boomers and a more family friendly day.”

Frehley – who will perform KISS favorites along with his most popular solo songs – Llanas and Pearcy are getting quite a buzz, but so are other acts, such as the Top 40 country band Bella Cain, performing July 10 along with country singer Makena Hartlin.

Fiesta Days typically is all about the rock, Bates said.

“We have had a clamoring of people that have wanted us to bring in a country band, and Bella Cain is young. It’s country rock, and it’s very popular with quite a few people in our county,” she said.

Among other performers are Jim & Justin, two members of the area’s well-known Modern Day Romeos, and The Last Vegas, a hard rock band.

Bates encouraged festival-goers to speak up through social media, as they have in the past.

“It’s always perfectly frank, as social media tends to be,” she said of past input. “They tell you what they really think. We take very seriously their input.”

In the meantime, she said, she simply plans to enjoy the festivities.

“I love to go into the crowds and just watch the people just enjoying one of the bands that’s up there, moving with the music, clapping their hands, singing the songs they remember. It’s just a joy to see that.”