Residents Come Out for Sky Lantern Fest

Highwood began its year-long celebration of its 125h anniversary last Saturday with its .

The festival was scheduled to include live music, barbecue, speeches from servicemen and women and the launch of hundreds of decorated, biodegradable lanterns. Though wind prevented all but a few lanterns from ascending into the evening air, those in attendance were still happy to be there.

"It was a very creative way to start celebrating Highwood's founding 125 years ago," said Highland Park resident Miles Zaremski, who estimated that about 300 people attended the event.

Zaremski's daughter brought him to the festical earlier for a rib cook off, judged by a panel that included owner .

"We put out ," Shapiro said of his restaurant's first year in business. "So I think they knew we knew what we were talking about."

Shapiro added that the participants in the cook off had a "good, strong showing." 

"We had a good time," he said.

The Sky Lantern Festival joins a growing list of events the city of Highwood puts on annually, including last Halloween's , the upcoming (June 20),  (June 24) and .

"I envision this could be another event properly timed to put Highwood on the map as well," Zaremski said.

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