The Lakeside Festival is a rite of passage – a sign that summer’s here.

For the estimated 50,000 people expected to stick out the sweltering heat and pass through, that’s a good reason to celebrate.

The festival kicked off in Crystal Lake on Wednesday and marked its 39th year in the neighborhood. Locals found all of the ingredients necessary to ring in a season of sun: carnival rides, cold beer, live tunes – and lots of lemonade.

“We’ve had a lot of lemonade and Italian ice already today,” said Nicole Perry, a Crystal Lake resident who rolled into Lakeside Festival with her husband and two daughters, Ava and Devyn, both licking a paper cup filled with blue Italian ice. “The Fourth of July is a big thing in Crystal Lake. I like seeing my kids doing something fun.”

The festival, which started on Independence Day and runs through Saturday, is the largest fundraiser for the Lakeside Legacy Foundation.

Siobhan Cottone, executive director of the foundation, said she expects to see the largest crowds Friday and Saturday.

“We’ve had a great first day,” Cottone said. “We anticipate [Thursday] to be the same.”

Ron Russell, co-chairman of the Lakeside Festival Committee, said the festival has changed a lot since it started as an ice cream social in 1979.

“We added a fish boil. Then it was a fish boil and barbecue ribs,” said Russell, who has since watched the festival transform into a four-day event. “We found a successful formula for the community, and it works really well.”

Crystal Lake resident Brynn Jeffries enjoys the diversity of activities.

“This is why you move to Crystal Lake, to me,” Jeffries said. “I remember in the ’80s riding my bike down here from the other side of the lake.

“Now that I have children, they love the rides, and we get the grown-up fun. It is fun for everybody.”

Couple Zach Morrison and Jessica Triznadela were leaving the festival with 4-year-old Kayden, who sat in a stroller eating an ice pop. Below his seat were his carnival winnings: a stuffed animal kingdom, including a turtle, shark, bird and dog.

Kayden held his favorite prize, an inflatable SpongeBob SquarePants hammer.

“I’m going to hammer you!” he yelled, laughing.