The much-awaited FoxFireFest Idol competition begins on June 24 at 6:00 p.m. at Wing Park prior to the regularly scheduled Summer Concert in the Park. Idol competitors in the 7-13 age categories will be the first age group to compete. Competition for other age groups will take place on July 8 (14-18), July 15 (19 and older), and July 22 (bands). July 29 has been reserved as a rain date.
Contestants will compete in one of three categories- 7-13; 14-18; 19 and older. Contestants must provide their own music and accompaniment. At each concert, two semi-finalists will be selected from each of these categories to move on to the final competition taking place at FoxFireFest on August 1-3 at Festival Park. Contestants will be judged by a panel made up of FoxFireFest sponsors and music experts, in combination with an at-large popular vote. Brent Edwards of the Elgin Area Convention and Visitors Bureau will serve as the MC for the competition series.
The at-large popular vote will be conducted by Bank of America in Elgin. Bank of America will have a table at each concert where votes can be placed by dropping money into a container for the favorite performer. Each vote is 25 cents. Voting will continue at the Elgin branch of Bank of America for the remainder of the week for competitors of the previous week. Voters can drop off their money during regular business hours at the bank, located at 2000 Big Timber Road, directly across from the Big Timber Metra Station. Money collected will be donated to the City of Elgin Parks and Recreation Youth Scholarship Fund.
Those unable to attend the concert can view the performances on line at the City of Elgin website at www.cityofelgin.org. Each week’s finalists will compete at the finals during FoxFireFest on Saturday, August 2. The winners will have the opportunity to perform at the Sunday night FoxFireFest concert, prior to the Sister Hazel concert. For more information, contact the Special Events office at 847-531-7056.
FoxFireFest is sponsored through the generous donations of our 2008 Special Event Season Sponsors- Comcast and The Daily Herald, as well as our “Candlelight” event sponsors- Best Buy, Davey Tree Experts, Bank of America, Waste Management, PanCor and City Beverage. Check the city website regularly for updated details on FoxFireFest at www.cityofelgin.org/events.