The village board has banned face masks at the Rockin’ Rib Festival scheduled for next month in Lake in the Hills in the wake of a recent carnival in the village that turned into chaos.
The Rotary Club of Lake in the Hills is hosting its annual Rockin’ Rib Festival from July 11-14.
The event, which brings a carnival, a variety of food vendors and live music, will be held in Sunset Park in Lake in the Hills.
The Rockin’ Rib Festival is an annual family-oriented event that raises money for the Rotary Club of Lake in the Hills.
The Lake in the Hills Village Board voted on Thursday to approve a special event permit to allow the event to be held.
The vote included the board adding a ban on face coverings at the event as a condition of the permit approval.
Lake in the Hills Police Department Public Information Officer Amanda Schmitt said the department committed to the village and community that it would be reevaluating all events held in the town following an incident in April at a different event.
That incident involved very large crowds and fights breaking out at the Cabin Fever Spring Carnival in Lake in the Hills. The carnival was hosted by Windy City Amusements and sponsored by the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce.
A large police response was sent to the scene and the carnival was shut down.
A “significant number of unchaperoned teenagers, with intentions to disrupt and cause trouble,” descended upon the carnival and shopping centers in the area, the chamber of commerce said at the time.
Schmitt said officers observed some individuals wearing face coverings at the Spring Carnival.
“… and we can’t ignore that we are seeing a trend locally and nationally of individuals with ill intent using face coverings to hide or disguise their identities,” Schmitt said.
“This measure is just one component of the Village’s commitment in providing safety and security for our residents and attendees of the two high profile festivals each year, in addition to many other Village events and programs throughout the year,” Schmitt added.
Village documents show that Windy City Amusements, which is operating the festival, will be installing a six-foot chain link fence around the perimeter of the carnival grounds with defined points of entry and exit.
The police department will also be present at the event.