Pepsi, local businesses host festival

By Justin Gallagher

DeKalb’s First Annual Live Wire City Fest kicks off this weekend in downtown DeKalb.

The fest begins at 9 a.m. Saturday with a parade of motorcycles and ends at 4 p.m. All activities will take place on Palmer Court and Second and Third streets.

Motorcycles of all varieties – classics, customs and choppers – will travel Lincoln Highway from the Convocation Center to First Street.

To get a good view of the parade, the south side of Lincoln Highway is best, said Jennifer Groce, executive director of Main Street DeKalb.

The parade marks the beginning of the fest.

The motorcycles will then be shown in the parking lot at the corner of Second and Locust streets. At 3 p.m., a People’s Choice Award will be awarded to the best motorcycle.

Various artists from the DeKalb area and NIU will display works of art and there will be a Little Live Wires Fest for the kids.

Children can enjoy a play firehouse, carnival games, a moonwalk activity and arts and crafts.

Local musicians will take to the stage during the event. While enjoying the music, people can taste free Blue Bunny ice cream and Pepsi Live Wire while supplies last.

Groce said the festival will have a block-party atmosphere. Live Wire is all about celebrating “the spark in DeKalb,” she said.

DeKalb’s First Annual Live Wire Fest

Who: Presented by Main Street DeKalb and sponsored by the Daily Chronicle, The MidWeek, Wal-Mart and Pepsi

Where: Downtown DeKalb, Palmer Court, Second and Third streets, parade on Lincoln Highway

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

Source: Main Street DeKalb