I spent most of the last five evenings at Northbrook Days, held in downtown Northbrook, about 30 minutes north of Chicago. Northbrook Days includes rides, games, live music, food, beer and wine.

Part of the Northbrook Civic Foundation, Northbrook Days is a 100 percent volunteer organization and is the foundation’s only fundraising event of the year. The Northbrook Civic Foundation funds college scholarships and grants to community organizations. Northbrook Days has raised more than $3 million since 1950.

Going every night allowed me to try several food items. There are always staples I must have at festivals, and pizza is tops on that list. The Goode & Fresh Pizza Bakery had such good pizzas, I had them several times.

Five nights also meant 11 different musical acts. My favorites were Harry & Peter (Harry Reinhart and Peter Quinn) and Mackenzie O’Brien.

Longtime local musicians Harry and Peter are also part of Skiptowne and the Greyhounds. Harry is the father of Haley, a former contestant on American Idol who has gone on to a successful career and is one of my favorite newer musicians. In addition to his own music projects, Harry joins Haley on stage on occasion. I have seen both many times.

Peter had a gold record with the Jump ‘n the Saddle band with “The Curly Shuffle.” Peter wrote and sang the song about the Three Stooges.

A native of northern Illinois, Mackenzie has performed more than 400 times in her four years as a professional. Mixing originals with covers, Mackenzie and her band delighted the crowd. We talked to her and her dad prior to the show and were very impressed with her maturity. I’ll definitely be checking her appearances schedule for upcoming shows.

The weather was perfect, food was delicious, music was lively and the cause is great. It was the perfect string of nights.

— John Wroblewski, online writer