It is unfortunate that there isn't much for the jr. high - high school aged children, but it seems as though no matter what is planned for their age group, there will be people that complain about it and won't allow their children to attend. I also have a hard time believing that the committee would not have organized a teen dance without appropriate supervision. Once again, my family and I thank the committee for all of their hard work. We are looking forward to another great year!

And, as a mother of four children, I was very grateful for the inflatables in West Side Park. I feel as though they were a great alternative to a carnival. I am often leary of putting my children on the carnival rides -not knowing how well they are maintained and not knowing if the people operating the rides should be anywhere around children. You can never be too carefule. Plus, it was nice that it did not cost us a bunch of money for

I would personally like to thank all of the 4th of July committee members for all of their hard work and dedication in organizing such an event. My husband and I were part of the committee a few years ago and can attest to the months of planning that goes into such an event.

It never fails to amaze me how some people complain no matter what this hard working committee provides for them! My husband has been on the committee for years. It takes a lot of dedication, time and hard work. Thanks to all committee members old and new! You should be proud of the celebration you have planned! Don't let the negativity of a few get you down.

To try something new: The dance is being supervised...and has a no tolerance policy....I will throw out anyone causing trouble....but thank you for volunteering..I will see you there then. Maybe you should ask before assuming anything.

To Nobody: I did join the committee and I am bringing the 3 on 3 tournament and the teen dance. why don't you join the committee and bring your wonderful ideas to the table and help out. Everyone wants to complain, no one wants to do anything about it. This is my first year on the committee and I think everyone there welcomed me with open arms.

What a shame!! Minonk has a 4th of July committee that VOLUNTEER countless hours of their time to have people post comments such as these. Most of these volunteers don't even get to spend the holiday with their own families because they are too busy making sure everything is running smoothly for your family to enjoy. They could have the biggest best carnival and activities and there would still be complaints!

Has anyone ever tried to volunteer in Minonk for committees? I have insight and have this to offer---no one volunteers for these committees because they are shut out of doing so because of "not being good enough" or not "rubbing the right shoulders." I know that a few friends of mine tried, and their ideas were poo-pooed. Maybe they didn't have the "right" name. Hmmmm...

Where is the emphasis on kids? I know… Let’s decorate the beer tent with circus clowns and pink elephants. What a shame…

It is nice to see all the suggestions. I am sure everyone will be joining the 4th committe next year further share their great ideas.

Take a look at Toluca's Labor Day Celebration. It is a smaller town than Minonk and continues to draw crowds year after year. Their parade on Labor Day is awesome with so many bands to enjoy. I would like to see Minonk have a quality celebration with something for all ages to enjoy.

I would love to support the community--if there was a decent celebration to support. Suttons Park is a joke--at least the evening entertainment and the fireworks should be out at Veterans Park. I thorougly enjoyed the celebrations when I was younger. The parade doesn't even have a band to enjoy.

Have you ever noticed that the biggest complainers are always the last ones to volunteer to help! Why not volunteer to help chaperone that teen dance and offer some supervision!

oh boy teen-age dance,no thanks,i have seen them young teenagers walking around with cigerettes sticking out of their mouths,parents sitting in beer tents,no thanks i will take my children to something more supervized,my children are 12 and 14 ,to big for inflatable,and noway a street dance that is'nt being supervized by parents,,,,

It was nice having all of the celebration at one location. But why not utilize all of the wonderful parks that are now in Minonk? All of the activities are at different times. Decent carnivals are already booked years in advance by the larger towns. Why not spend the holiday in Minonk and support your own community?

Finally, when the committee decides what activities to have next year, they should look back to celebrations of the 70's and 80's and realize that the number of attendees at those events were tremendous.(Bingo, Fireman water fights, pageants, field games, where beer was not the emphasis!) Seems to me that the numbers of people coming into town to celebrate go down each year, which results in loss of money for Minonk as families are leaving town on the holiday to go to bigger events.

Secondly, my ten-year-old is a little big for the blow-up "toys" at the park. I agree 100% w/ Cosby and Parks. These "celebrations" do not hold a candle to years past! They DO need to be at one park, Veterans Park, like in days past. It is still Veterans Park, right? (Or is it Fieldcrest Football Park now?) I think that holding them at Sutton's Park is simply an accident waiting to happen, especially since that area is already traffic congested, and no one drives sensible anymore.

First--teen dance....oh joy...I'm sure that will be a barrel of fun, and so highly supervised too, no doubt. I seem to remember a teen dance a few years back that was a complete and total FLOP. No way will I let my teens go to this as I'm sure that those wonderful little law-breaking teens will be out in droves this evening, reducing it to nothing more than an attraction for misbehavior.

It is time to have everything at one park again. Use the wonderful (and large) athletic field that we have for all of the activites planned, they way it used to be done in the 70's and 80's. If it was planned way ahead of time to get a carnival, a decent one could be had. We take our family to Streator, as year after year they have a wonderful 4th of July celebration.

The carnivals in the past were expensive and there was hardly ever any kids riding the rides. The carnival was in town for 3-4 days - that was too long. The 4th of July activities last year at the West side park were GREAT! It was one day and very inexpensive for a family. The teen dance they have planned for this year should also be a big hit with the teenage kids. Looks like the 4th of July committee has plenty of activities planned to keep kids of all ages busy this year!!

It is impossible to get a clean suitable carnival for the 4th. If your'e unhappy try joing the committee to help. Last years turnout at the West Side Park on the 4th was wonderful come join the fun there.

I have to agree,how sad no carnival ride's again this year,no wonder the kids have to find other things to do,they have notthing to look forward to for the summer no pool no notthing for the children...

no carnival rides?? how sad

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