By Brian Cox, Special to the Tribune

When Mark Zimmerman and his wife Laura heard that one their favorite rock bands, The Presidents of the United States, was playing at the Backlot Bash festival in downtown Skokie, they drove to the north suburb from their home in Milwaukee to hear the band perform.
 
“I’m a big fan of the band,” Mark Zimmerman said as he waited for the band to start. “I heard they were playing a free show and it’s one of the only free shows they’re playing this summer.”
 
The free three-day event last weekend attracted thousands of people to the downtown district, and for that reason alone should be considered a success, said Ann Tennes, director of marketing and communications with the Village of Skokie.
 
“It brings people to downtown Skokie,” Tennes said. “The village has had a very targeted marketing campaign for downtown Skokie this summer. People are seeing a visible difference in the way downtown Skokie looks.”
 
The fourth annual Backlot Bash featured activities for all ages, including live music, carnival rides, a classic auto show and other events.  There were also story sessions and games at the Skokie Public Library and films at the historic Skokie Theater. 
The event  was held on a closed off two-block section of Oakton Street between Lincoln and Laramie Avenues adjacent to Skokie Village Hall at 5127 Oakton Street.
 
“There’s a lot of fun out here and I really like it,” said Skokie resident, Nicola Brown who attended the festival with her young daughter Kimberly.

 “When I see all these people here I thought to myself I hope this event helps attract a lot of people to downtown Skokie because it will be better for the businesses and will help with the taxes, that are going up.”
 
Phil Levsky and his wife Laure came from Schaumberg for the live music.  They said they were impressed with everything they saw and heard.
 
“We walked around and saw the old antique cars. It was neat,” Phil Levsky said. “We’ll definitely be back next year.”
 
Tennes said the village has made a concerted effort to promote downtown businesses and restaurants during the last few years and said the festival is part of that marketing effort.
 
“If people haven’t had an occasion to go to downtown Skokie, and they come for the Backlot Bash, they are going to see some visible differences in the way the way the downtown looks,” she said. “And this is just a start.”