2026-04-28 Village of Villa Park Villa Fest Subcommittee Special Meeting

The Village of Villa Park held a Villa Fest Subcommittee special meeting on April 28, 2026, primarily focused on budget constraints and planning for the upcoming Villa Fest event. The subcommittee discussed the significant budget shortfall, with the village board indicating no additional funds available, leading to suggestions to scale back the event or postpone major components like the beer tent, bands, and amusement rides until next year. The village manager explained the budget challenges, including a $30,000 projected budget for the event and the need for budget amendments to be considered by the village board in mid-May. Detailed expense reviews from previous years were shared, highlighting major costs such as inflatables, sound, tables, chairs, tents, and face painting. The subcommittee also explored cost-saving measures, including vendor arrangements and volunteer staffing for the beer tent. Marketing materials and logo designs for the event were reviewed, with plans to finalize them soon. The group agreed to hold a special meeting in mid-May to further discuss the budget and event planning. No formal votes on budget allocations were recorded, but the discussion centered on balancing event quality with fiscal responsibility amid financial constraints.