Kankakee's Free entertainment

It started off years ago as a simple free night of musical entertainment. The city of Kankakee and its supporters rolled in a flatbed semi-trailer to serve as the performance stage at the downtown railroad depot.

Today, it's a two day event. The Merchant Street MusicFest. Last summer more than 20,000 people heard over 30 musical acts on three stages at the downtown Depot Park.

This weekend, Friday and Saturday, the MusicFest has shaped up to even bigger and better.

Bill Yohnka,one of the committee organizers, says the event has put the city on the map, drawing upwards to 20,000 people to the 2-day fun.

The musical festival runs Friday from 5 pm 'til Midnight. Then Saturday from 2 pm 'til Midnight. It's all downtown Kankakee at Depot Park.

Electric-filled stages, video boards, food vendors, and talented musical groups will all share stage presence.

Included among the groups is "Black Cadillac," a cover group with Momence roots.

There's the Earth Wind & Fire Tribute Band, "Shining Star."

The "Magnifiers," a young rock group of Clifton grade school and high schoolers.

Pembroke's Karl Outeen "Lil' Daddy Blues" and the "Number One Sons," of the Kankakee Farmers' Market and Gray Farms connection.

There's a lot more too. Yohnka says it's all about a local effort. And a lot of great sponsors do their part to make it happen.

The Merchant Street Musicfest remains a FREE event to the public because of the support of several local sponsors.

And 94.1 WGFA will be there. We're broadcasting Friday, beginning at 4 pm into the evening. Join us ! We'll visit with band members, food vendors, and maybe you, thousands of visitors expected at Kankakee's Merchant Street MusicFest Friday and Saturday.

94.1 WGFA