CHANNAHON – A year ago, Angie Cruz’s son, Donovan, was hesitant to go on the carnival rides at Three Rivers Festival’s Special Needs Day.

Wednesday was a different story.

“He’s into everything this year,” Cruz said of her son, who has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and sensory processing disorder.

“I appreciate my aunt and uncle bringing us out for this,” said Cruz, who lives in Berwyn. “We don’t have anything like this in the city.”

Special Needs Day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, kicked off Channahon’s Three Rivers Festival at Central Park at Route 6 and West Bluff Road. The five-day festival goes through Sunday.

Fantasy Amusement Co., based in Arlington Heights, opens the carnival to those with special needs and their families free of charge for Special Needs Day, before the general public gains access Wednesday evening. Channahon has one of the largest gatherings out of the company’s regional circuit, said Rick Stanley, who said the company holds similar events for those with special needs at other festivals.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s hot or cold, we’re here for people with special needs,” Stanley said as Channahon firefighters passed out ice-cold water bottles to attendees in the 90-plus degree heat. “It’s a time for them to enjoy themselves, at no cost.”

Unlike large amusement parks, Special Needs Day provides an affordable, inclusive environment for people with special needs, Stanley said. About 80 percent of the rides were open to the crowd.

“They could wait hours and hours at a big amusement park just to get turned away,” Stanley said.

Instead, attendees may end up seeing familiar faces. Some people were in groups with chaperones while others went with parents or guardians.

“There are some people here that we’ve seen at our other events,” Stanley said.

Cruz’s uncle, Ed Petru of Channahon, said he’s seen how the amusement park atmosphere has helped Donovan and other people with special needs.

“I think it enhances his ability to deal with life,” Petru said. “I see the smiles on his face when he gets off a ride. I wish more people could be happy like that.”

Petru said Special Needs Day gives people with special needs a chance to get out and enjoy life, without having to fight through large crowds.

“It’s amazing to see how the event is run, the effort put in by volunteers has been great,” Petru said.

Special Needs Day was more than just carnival rides in the blazing sun. Festivalgoers had an optional swim time starting at 10 a.m., followed by a complimentary lunch at 11:30 a.m. provided by Channahon-Minooka area McDonald’s restaurants.

In addition to Special Needs Day and the carnival, Three Rivers Festival also includes a beer garden in the evening hours through Friday, all day Saturday and from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. The Family Entertainment Stage is open each day and the ExxonMobil Kidz Zone is open Saturday and Sunday. Various musical acts and others performances are scheduled throughout the festival.

For information, visit www.channahonpark.org/trindex.php.

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THREE RIVERS FESTIVAL MUSIC

Thursday – 7:30 p.m., rock-country cover band Rockstar Rodeo

Friday – 8:30 p.m., classic rock cover band ARRA

Saturday – 8:30 p.m., 1980s cover band Hairbangers Ball