In the early 1900s, filmmakers felt Skokie, a suburb just north of Chicago, resembled an old prairie town and made it a popular choice for shooting westerns. The Niles Center (now Skokie Theatre) showed movies shot just feet away. About a century later, in 2007, Skokie’s Backlot Bash debuted, paying homage to the village’s roots.

The Bash is a three-day event festival featuring live music, a carnival, a 5K run, classic films, an auto show and more. Held in downtown Skokie, it is a two-block walk from my condo. I can even hear the music while relaxing on my balcony.

Of course, food is always a big part of the Bash. I never pass on a slice of pizza at some point. I also had to have a mango botana, because it was so good last year. Spicy, sweet, sour and artistic,  mango botanas are a refreshing flavor explosion..

With more than 15 musical acts during the weekend, there is something for everyone, but my highlight is always Tributosaurus. Perhaps the most versatile and ambitious cover band, Tributo morphs into different bands for every performance, recreating the sound and experience. Comprised of Chicago’s top musicians, including Matt Spiegel who doubles as a sports talk radio host, Tributo has entertained fans since 2002. On Sunday, Tributo became the Kinks to provide a rocking end to the Bash.

— John Wroblewski, online writer