Despite ominous skies and a little rain, more than 400 people attended the fifth edition of the Unplugged Festival at Paulus Park in Lake Zurich on Sunday.

The event continued to build upon its original theme of disconnecting from the cell phone and, instead, connecting with the community at large.

The other purpose was live demonstrations and interactive displays from local businesses, along with outreach programs available in the area. Nearly 50 organizations were represented, as families were urged to bring a picnic lunch and explore new hobbies, make crafts or just relax.

“The festival was created by Alexis Alt in 2020, and she was only 11 years old at the time,” Lake Zurich Mayor Tom Poynton said. “It was a response to people’s reliance on technology during COVID. It’s grown into a

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