Batavia Dawg Daze Block Party Unleashed August 19-20
8-12-05

Batavia, IL: Batavia unleashes a new twist to end of summer festival fun on Friday August 19th and Saturday August 20th. Working in cooperation with Batavia MainStreet, downtown restaurants combine the previously popular N. River Street Block Party with Dawg Daze to create "Dawg Daze Block Party," an event not to be missed. Dawg Daze is presented by the following downtown Batavia restaurants: Fantastico, Fox Grill, Full Moon Bar & Grill, O'Brien' s Pub and Grill, One East Wilson, and The Venice Tavern.

FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT: Not just another walk in the park, music lovers are invited to enjoy free music kicking off Friday at 5 p.m. with Majors Junction followed by Downtown Charlie Brown at 8 p.m. Saturday's entertainment starts at 3 p.m. with Blue Voodoo, followed by Michael Heaton at 5:30 and Hoss at 8:00 p.m. Fest patrons will enjoy a pig roast, pizza and other favorite foods served on the lower level of the N. River Street parking garage from 5-11 p.m. on Friday and 3-11 p.m. on Saturday. Street dancing and a beer garden are located on N. River Street by State Street.

TRAFFIC AND PARKING: The entire block of N. River Street to State Street will be blocked off starting at Noon on Friday so through traffic should make alternate plans for that weekend. Motorists and Dawg Daze Block Party guests should also be aware that the Fabyan Bridge is scheduled to be closed during this weekend and should plan a few extra minutes for traffic and parking. Fest parking is located at the following areas: N. River Street (north of State Street), N. River Street upper level parking garage, First Baptist lot behind church, Rt. 25 parking lot behind Valley Community Bank and Batavia Park District Eastside Community Center (after 6 p.m.), and across the pedestrian bridge at the Riverwalk and N. Island Ave. area plus any available onstreet parking downtown.

SPONSORS: Dawg Daze sponsors include: Top Dawg: Daily Herald; Super Dawg: Image Awards & Engraving; Mighty Dawgs: Anderson Advertising Design, Harris Bank, National City, Shodeen Inc., Sign Tech, Valley Community Bank and Puppy Dawg: Sue's Family Hair Co. The Stage Sponsor is Mike's Hard Lemonade and Event Sponsor is Euclid Beverage.

The Batavia MainStreet Program is one of 58 not-for-profit community based organizations in the state of Illinois. The mission of Batavia MainStreet is to enhance the identity of Batavia's downtown area as the heart of our community. MainStreet members work through the four points: Design, Economic Restructuring, Organization and Promotion to improve the downtown district. MainStreet volunteers believe the revitalization of Downtown Batavia is essential to our community's sense of pride, place, and heritage for this and future generations. For more information about Batavia MainStreet or to volunteer, please contact Britta McKenna at (630) 761-3528 or email britta@downtownbatavia.com.

Contact Laura O'Brien (O'Brien's) at (630) 406-9200 or Cynthia Blomquist (Fox Grill) (630) 761-3930 for additional information, quotes or band promotional photos.