TOCO Family Festival & Camp Out raises money for Make-A-Wish

Enjoy the last days of summer in Illinois while doing some good for charity.

The seventh annual TOCO Family Festival & Camp Out features activities, arts and bands between 3 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Tapestry of Community Offerings organizes family events to benefit and raise awareness of children in need. The festival benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

The $35 donation to camp and attend the weekend festival goes directly to Make-A-Wish. Families can reserve tree houses for camping or camp with their favorite festival band on the grounds of Camp Ondessonk.

Camp Ondessonk has tree houses that hold up to 500 people at Shawnee National Forest of Southern Illinois near Ozark, Ill.

"The only way I can describe it is the Ewok villages in Star Wars," said Kim Vrooman with the TOCO Festival.

Guests can hike, canoe, ride horses or listen to any of 23 musical acts, including locals and Londoner Rodney Branigan.

Advanced reservations are required for tree-house and family camping. For more information, or for tickets, visit www.tocofestival.com, e-mail tocofestival@gmail.com or call 618-580-0303.