Banner weather over most of the five days of Northbrook Days helped to bring in an estimated 30,000 people.
The Northbrook Civic Foundation festival took place in its newer location in the west Metra parking lot in downtown Northbrook.
Previous festival venues included the west side of Northbrook Court and for decades at Village Green Park.
The foundation produces the annual event as a fundraiser for community project grants and scholarships.
Last year’s festival netted $100,000 in proceeds and for 2025, “We hope to blow past $100,000 this year,” said Leslie S. Pinto of Northbrook, festival co-chair.
Pinto is among four co-chairs this year, joined in the shared co-chair role by Rhandi Weinstock, Michael Furby and Mike Daly, also Northbrook residents.
“This 100-year Northbrook tradition brings together the entire community for five days of family fun, live music, local food and more,” Pinto said. “If you grew up in Northbrook, you grew up going to Northbrook Days.
“The best part is that all of the proceeds go directly back to benefit our community in the form of local grants to charitable organizations and to graduating seniors to help offset the cost of college,” Pinto said.
According to its website, the Northbrook Civic Foundation is a non-profit organization.
Past organizations that have been foundation recipients have included the Northbrook Park District, Northbrook Public Library, Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook, Village of Northbrook, Northbrook Community Nursery School, Northbrook Historical Society, Northfield Township Food Pantry, North Suburban YMCA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Glenbrook North High School Grad Night, The Josselyn Center, Northbrook Community Garden, Northbrook Centennial Plaza, Northbrook Symphony, Special Gifts Theatre, NSSRA and Northbrook Baseball, along with care packages to military Northbrook residents overseas and more.
Rita Sawa of Glenview rides the Ferris wheel with daughter Natalia, 6, a rising first-grader, at Northbrook Days Festival on July 31, 2025 in downtown Northbrook. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)
It takes approximately 150 volunteers to make Northbrook Days possible, Pinto confirmed.
“Northbrook Days would not be possible without the hundreds of hours put in by all of the amazing Northbrook Civic Foundation members and other community volunteers,” Pinto said.
“These volunteers spend months planning all of the details for the festival including coordinating the live entertainment, food vendors, grand prize raffle, the many business and community sponsorships, rides, set up, kids’ games and so much more,” Pinto said.
From left, Tom Kittler of Northbrook, Rob Holt of Northbrook and James Ossey of Glenview staff the Northbrook Veterans Center booth and say hello to Sandra Catalano of Northbrook and son Jacy, 9, a rising third-grader, at Northbrook Days Festival on July 31, 2025 in downtown Northbrook. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)
“Thank you to all who volunteered over the course of the festival from set up, cooking burgers, selling tickets to takedown.
“We appreciate you more than you know,” Pinto said, adding, “We are incredibly proud to be carrying on this local tradition since 1925.”
Right, a rider pulls down the safety cover on The Edge ride at Northbrook Days Festival on July 31, 2025 in downtown Northbrook. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)
Thursday’s evening crowd filled carnival midways. July 31 was Family Bargain Night with wristband sales ($25 each) for unlimited carnival rides for four hours starting at 6 p.m.
Tweens were seen in groups going from ride to ride. For Rita Sawa of Glenview, taking in the view from the top of the Ferris wheel was a special bonding moment with daughter Natalia, 6, a rising first-grader. Also taking the ride was spouse Basman Sawa and son Emmanuel, 8, a rising third-grader.
“We wait all year round just to come here,” Rita Sawa said. “It’s my favorite time of the year.”
Northbrook Police had a heavy presence at the carnival. Elevated security details were seen on the premises.
Below, on the ride Pharaoh’s Fury is a group of Northbrook friends, all 13, all rising-eighth graders. On the top back row, from left, are Carlie Dougherty and Lucy Berman. Second row, from left are Olivia Miller, Sofia Kaplan and Kasia St. John at Northbrook Days Festival on July 31, 2025 in downtown Northbrook. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)
“I love it here,” the children’s mother added. “It’s so safe, it’s so amazing, the crowd is just, the safest crowd ever.
“This is the only carnival I ever go to in Illinois.”