Family Fun Festival in Joliet on Saturday

Including You, Inc. brings music, food, a kids zone and even COVID-19 vaccinations to downtown Joliet on Saturday for its third Family Fun Festival.

It’s the third year for the event, which runs 5:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the gate. They are available at www.family-fun-festival.com.

Family Fun Festival combines fun with fundraising. Proceeds will benefit Male Performing Arts of the National Hook-Up of Black Women, which will perform at the event, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

“We are happy to be in action again after a long year of being out,” Including You founder Julia Alexander told the City Council earlier this month as she and others with organization discussed the event.

Alexander said Monday that the event has grown from 500 in its first year to 2,500 in the second year before being canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She expects it to get bigger again.

“We’re looking for 4,000 to 5,000. We are growing each year,” she said.

Among unique features of the event are COVID-19 vaccines provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health and an appearance by Grammy-winning, Chicago blues drummer Merle Perkins for a drum solo.

There will be six bands and groups for a blend of blues, jazz and gospel music.

The family friendly event will include a kids zone.

There also will be food vendors and a beer tent.

Previous groups that have benefited from the event are the Will-Grundy Medical Clinic, Redeemed Community Ministries of Joliet, Boys & Girls Club of Joliet, and the Forest Park Community Center. When the event could not be held last year, Including You drew on its funds to make donations to the Spanish Community Center and MorningStar Mission, Alexander said.