AUGUST
The Lake County Fair is going on NOW through August 10th in Crown Point, Indiana. Enjoy Monster Truck shows each day August 1st through the 3rd, the D&D Pro Rodeo on Wednesday, August 6th, and demolition derbies on Saturday and Sunday, August 9th and 10th at 5pm. For a full schedule, visit lake-county-Fair.com
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Enjoy live music, local food and free fun under the stars on Friday, August 1st during Downtown Kankakee’s next “Summer Concert Series” show at the Hill Stage near the train depot in Harold and Jean Miner Festival Square from 6 to 9pm. This will be “R&B Night”, featuring music from the “10 Grand Band” and “Midnight Sun”.
Pastor James and Minister Darice Smith invite you to attend their 3rd annual Soul Saving Revival this weekend at the “We Stand For Christ Jesus Ministries Transitional Life House” at 1230 South East Avenue in Kankakee. You’ll enjoy free food and hear powerful testimonies and messages from pastors, leaders and teachers on Friday, August 1st (Ladies Night) from 5 to 8pm and on Saturday, August 2nd (Family Day) from 4 to 8pm. There will be special cash blessing opportunities both Friday and Saturday. You’ll also want to return for the concluding services on Sunday, August 3rd from 11am to noon.
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The “Cruis’n the Square” car show will be happening on Saturday, August 2nd from 6 to 8pm on South Schuyler Avenue in downtown Kankakee. This will be “Offroad Night”. Enjoy the cool vintage and custom vehicles on display, food vendors and live music from local musician Jake Vaughn, performing in the Farmers Market gazebo.
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Two sessions remain for the Bourbonnais Township Park District’s free outdoor yoga program, “Yoga on the Prairie”. In partnership with Limber Mind and Body Wellness Studio, this program is open to those ages 12 and up, but participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. It takes place in the field near Exploration Station at Perry Farm Park on Saturday, August 2nd from 8 to 9am. Read more info and register online at BTPD.org
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A Barbeque Fundraiser for the “Imagine Nation Performance Team” will be happening on Saturday, August 2nd from 5 to 9pm in the Hangar at the Manteno American Legion. This will be an evening of fun and food with raffles and door prizes to support an amazing team of dancers as they prepare for the competition season. Tickets are $20 each and will include your choice of a hot dog, burger or pork sandwich with salad or chips, a cookie, bottle of water and door prize entry. There will also be 50/50 split-the-pot drawings taking place.
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The Manteno Sportsmen’s Club’s next “Cheeseburger Night” will be on Wednesday, August 6th with burgers served from 6 to 8pm. The night’s entertainment will begin at 6pm with live music from John David Daily.
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The Village of Manteno’s next “Movies in the Park” event is set to take place on Thursday, August 7th at the Burke Amphitheater on William Avenue in Legacy Park, where they’ll be offering a free showing of “The Garfield Movie” (2024) from 7:30 to 10pm. The Manteno Wildcats will provide concessions and the film begins at dusk.
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The 87th Annual Momence Gladiolus Festival will take place August 6th through August 10th and the theme this year is “Gladiolus Game Night”, featuring a 31-Day Raffle. This fest will include a small carnival, parades, a beer garden, live entertainment and more. There will be a large car show on Saturday, a tractor show on Sunday, and their huge Flea, Craft and Antique Market takes place at Island Park on both Saturday and Sunday (August 9th & 10th) from 8am to 3pm. Get more details and view the schedule of events at gladfest.com
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The Manteno Chamber of Commerce will host a “Ladies Night Out” on Wednesday, August 13th from 6 to 9pm at the Square on Second in downtown Manteno. Enjoy a night out while supporting all things local and celebrating our community with food and drinks, market vendors, community resources and live music from Matt Yeager. For additional details, visit mantenochamber.com
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Downtown Kankakee’s next “Sandwiches with a Side of Jam” lunchtime concert is scheduled for Wednesday, August 13th from 11:30am to 1pm at the train depot in Harold and Jean Miner Festival Square. This free and family-friendly event will feature food trucks from “Creme of the Crop” and “Bamboo Island”, along with live music provided by John Till.
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States Attorney Jim Rowe’s “Reel Justice Fishing Club” for kids and adults, in partnership with the Northern Illinois Anglers Association, will meet one more time this season on Wednesday, August 13th from 5pm to 7:30 at the Bird Park Quarry along West Station Street in Kankakee. The skills focus will be on bass, gills and catfish. Both lures and live bait will be used. This is free to attend, fishing poles, tackle and bait will be provided. Parents and guardians are encouraged to come along. Visit k3sao.com/fish for more information.
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The Kankakee Area YMCA Childcare Center is hosting a free open house on Wednesday, August 13th from 6pm to 7:30 at 1025 North Washington Avenue in Kankakee. Offering childcare for kids up to 5 years old, you can learn about all “the Y” has to offer, meet the staff, tour the facility, enjoy refreshments, and receive free registration.
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A “Donate While You Dine” event will take place at Culver’s on Route 45 in Bourbonnais on the evening of Wednesday, August 13th which will directly benefit students in our local schools. Culver’s will donate 10% of all sales made between 5 and 8pm that day to “Let’s Ketchup”, a local nonprofit organization that raises money to eliminate student lunch debt.
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The “Two Rivers Festival” will be taking place Friday, August 15th and Saturday, August 16th in the Village of Aroma Park. This family-friendly event features food vendors, a beer tent, live bands, a bounce house and other children’s activities, a craft and vendor fair, a baking contest, softball and kickball tournaments, Bingo, bags, a car show and more. No admission or parking fees. Don’t miss their Saturday night fireworks at 9pm. Visit the “Two Rivers Fest Aroma Park” Facebook page for more.
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The Bradley American Legion will host a Poker Run with cash prizes for best hands on Saturday, August 16th. The cost is $20 per rider and $10 for each passenger. Registration will open at 10am with kickstands up at 11am. This will start and end at Post 766 on Broadway in Bradley, with stops at VFWs in Wilmington and Stone City, and the American Legions in Aroma Park and Manteno. With the last bike in at 5pm, there will be an afterparty at the Bradley Legion featuring food, drinks, live music and a bike show. This Poker Run is a ride to help our heroes and the proceeds will be donated to Project Headspace and Timing.
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The Village of Bourbonnais’ 5th annual “Food Truck Festival” will take place on Saturday, August 16th from noon until 10pm at The Grove, located along Main Street Northwest in Bourbonnais. There will be over 20 different food trucks on site, a Family Fun Day in the Kid Zone, along with a 150th Anniversary Concert. Admission is free. For more info, visit villageofbourbonnais.com
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The Kankakee Valley Park District will host another free “Rockin’ The River” summer concert on Wednesday, August 20th with music from “The Country Night” in Kankakee’s Bird Park on West Station Street at the Don Palzer Bandshell. Along with live entertainment, there will also be food trucks, drinks and family activities. The festivities begin at 6pm and the music will go on from 7:30 to 9:30pm.
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The Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet golf outing fundraiser, “A Swing and a Prayer” will take place on Tuesday, August 26th at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont. Rain or shine, this will be a day filled with golf, food and drinks, a raffle, silent auction and lots of fun. Registration opens at 7:30am and the shotgun start will be at 9am. A cocktail hour starts at 2pm, followed by dinner. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Funds raised with this event will help the homeless, hungry, lonely, and poverty-stricken among us. More details are available at catholiccharitiesjoliet.org/swing
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Project Sun and the Merchant Street Art Gallery of Artists with Autism are inviting parents and caregivers with children of all ages who are receiving mental, emotional and behavioral health services in Kankakee County to attend their “Caregiver Craft Club”. The club meets every 4th Wednesday of the month from 5:30 to 7:30pm in the art gallery at 356 East Merchant Street in Kankakee. The next meeting will be held on the evening of Wednesday, August 27th and dinner will be provided.
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The Just Us Motorcycle Club will host “Luke’s 3rd Annual Ride For Autism” on Saturday, August 30th and all vehicles are welcome. The ride starts at City Tavern on South West Avenue in Kankakee with registration beginning at 10:30am and kickstands up at noon. They will be selling T-shirts and holding split-the-pot raffles throughout the day. The cost is $20 per rider and $10 per passenger. Proceeds from this event will benefit the local River Valley Special Recreation Association. Participants are also invited to attend an afterparty. More details can be found on the “Just Us MC Events” Facebook page.
SEPTEMBER
Local nonprofit group “Let’s Ketchup” will host their annual Family Fun Fest at Adventure Commons in Bourbonnais from 11am to 3pm on Saturday, September 20th. This event is free to attend and will feature food trucks, bounce houses, face-painting, crafts and more. They are currently seeking sponsorship for this event and have sponsorship levels available that range from $50 to $1,000 and beyond. Sponsors will have their name and logo posted outside the given activity or area, included in social media posts and more. The funds raised by this organization are used to eliminate student lunch debt in our area schools. If interested in sponsoring their Family Fun Fest, please email: team@letsketchup.org
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The Illinois-based nonprofit organization, “Warriors Walk” is dedicated to bringing together a network of VFWs, American Legions, businesses, schools and community members to combat veteran suicide. You can join the fight on Saturday, September 13th when they host their 6th annual “Warriors Walk Ruck” to raise suicide awareness. This will take place at New Lenox Commons on Veterans Parkway in New Lenox with registration opening at 8am. Walk from 1 to 20 miles; the distance is up to you and it’s free to participate. A post-ruck afterparty will take place with military vehicles, activities, raffles and vendors. There will also be live music, a bounce house and food provided. Funds raised will go to veteran suicide prevention and mental health initiatives through the Headstrong Project. Milner Media is a proud sponsor of this event. For more details and to register visit warriorswalk-IL.org
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They call it “the best last Saturday of Summer”. The 5th annual “Kankakee Estival Festival” will be held at the Don Palzer Bandshell in Bird Park on Saturday, September 20th featuring musical acts of all genres, local artists, and delicious fare from area restaurants, bars and food trucks. This free, all-ages event showcases local talent and is orchestrated by the “Collaborative Initiative to Revive Kankakee Arts”. You can visit CIRKAkankakee.org for additional information.
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The Kankakee Quiltmakers will host their “Autumn Splendor Quilt Show” at the First Church of the Nazarene on North Entrance Avenue in Kankakee on Friday, September 26th from 9am to 5pm and Saturday, September 27th from 9am to 3pm. The show will feature a quilt display, quiltmakers boutique, a bed turning, raffle baskets and a quilt raffle. There will also be vendors and food available for purchase. Admission is $8 per adult or free for children under 12. For more information, visit: kankakeequiltmakers.com or find them on Facebook
OCTOBER
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention invites you to walk with them to prevent suicide during the “Out of the Darkness Kankakee County Walk” on Saturday, October 4th beginning at 1pm at Kankakee Community College. You can register or donate today at AFSP.org/Kankakee
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