Downtown Lombard's free Cruise Nights & Summer Concert Series closes out Saturday, Aug. 22, with a four-hour finale on South Park Avenue headlined by Hi Infidelity, a Chicagoland classic rock cover band known for arena-rock sets spanning Journey, REO Speedwagon, Bon Jovi and Styx.
The season-ender runs from 6 to 10 p.m., an hour longer than the series' regular Saturday shows, according to the village's event calendar. The events are free and family-friendly, and the concert stage is set up near 232 W. Saint Charles Road in downtown Lombard.
What sets the finale apart from the rest of the summer lineup: up to nine downtown businesses will be allowed to serve alcoholic beverages in the public right-of-way along the concert viewing area. The Lombard Village Board approved a Class J liquor license ordinance on a waiver of first reading at its July 17 meeting to make that happen.
Assistant village manager John Schwarz told the board the ordinance would "authorize existing businesses holding local liquor licenses, which are immediately adjacent to the concert viewing area, to serve alcohol for consumption in a defined event area," The Lombardian reported.
The board also approved a license agreement with AT&T to use a portion of its parking lot at 20 N. Main St. for the finale, giving the village additional space for designated vehicle parking.
The Cruise Nights series launched June 13 and has brought live music to South Park Avenue every Saturday evening through the summer. Hi Infidelity, which performs hits from Foreigner, Def Leppard, Survivor and other '70s and '80s rock acts, will close out the run.
The specific downtown businesses participating under the Class J license have not been announced. The ordinance covers only those holding existing local liquor licenses immediately adjacent to the concert viewing area.
Residents looking for the next big village event after the series wraps can mark Sunday, Sept. 6, for fireworks at Madison Meadow Park, also approved by the Village Board at its July 17 meeting.
