APRIL
Saint Viateur’s Council #745 are keeping up their Lenton tradition of hosting a Fish Fry at the Knights of Columbus in Kankakee every Friday evening during Lent from 4:30 to 7pm. Their options include a dine-in buffet, dine-in shrimp, and fish or shrimp to go. Prices range from $15 to $20. It’s each every Fridays through April 18th at 187 South Indiana Avenue in Kankakee.
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Every Friday evening during Lent the Bradley American Legion is hosting a Fish Fry from 5 to 7pm or while supplies last. You get 3 pieces of fish with fries and coleslaw for $12. This ends on Friday, April 11th. The American Legion Post 766 is at 835 West Broadway Street in Bradley.
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The Knights of Columbus in Momence are sponsoring the Saint Patrick’s Parish Fish Fry every Friday evening during Lent from 5 to 7pm in the basement of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church at 119 Market Street in Momence. This will go on through April 11th. The cost is $12 for a 2-piece meal or $14 for a 3-piece meal. The dinner includes your choice of fried or baked Alaskan Pollock, baked potato or French fries, mac & cheese, coleslaw, corn, and dessert from the Council of Catholic Women.
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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It’s a time to honor survivors, raise awareness and promote prevention efforts to end sexual violence. Clove Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting survivors in Kankakee, Iroquois and Ford Counties. They have organized a variety of events to educate the public and foster allyship. They encourage you to visit clovealliance.org today to get all the details on these events and learn ways that you can support Clove Alliance’s mission.
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Yoga with Colleen returns to the Limestone Township Public Library on Thursday, April 3rd at 6pm. Bring your yoga mat, wear comfortable clothing and join them for a relaxation yoga session. No experience is needed. The library is located at 2701 West Tower Road in Kankakee.
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The American Red Cross needs more willing donors to help save lives by giving blood and platelets. Some upcoming local Red Cross blood drives include: Thursday, April 3rd from 11am to 5pm at Northfield Square Mall in Bradley / Friday, April 11th from 8am to 1:30pm at Bishop McNamara Catholic School in Kankakee / Tuesday, April 15th from 1 to 6pm at the American Lutheran Church on Career Center Road in Bourbonnais / and again at Northfield Square Mall on Thursday, April 17th from 11am to 5pm. Visit redcrossblood.org for more info.
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The 2025 Createur Conference and Pitch Competition will take place Thursday, April 3rd and Friday, April 4th at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais. This two-day event to gain insights and connect with a thriving community will feature world-class speakers, inspiring spark speakers, expert panels, cash prizes and more. This year’s keynote speaker will be renowned athlete, author and philanthropist, Tim Tebow. You can register now for free at “Createur.Olivet.edu”.
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The 2025 Jasper County Home & Garden Expo will be held on Friday, April 4th from 3 to 7pm and Saturday, April 5th from 8am until 4pm. There will be vendors and food, free swag and demonstrations. This is open to the public and free to attend at the Jasper County Fairgrounds on State Road 114 in Rensselaer, Indiana. Call (219) 987-5800 for questions, or email info@demottechamber.org
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Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce members can get to know their fellow Chamber members in a relaxed atmosphere with open networking and activities during the next Coffee & Connections session on Friday, April 4th from 8:30 to 10am at Adventure Commons, 70 Ken Hayes Drive in Bourbonnais. The ultimate networking experience is $15 per chamber member or $45 for prospective members. Register online today at kankakeecountychamber.com
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The Northern Illinois Anglers Association will host their annual Kids’ Fishing Day on Saturday, April 5th from 8am until noon at the Bird Park Quarry in Kankakee. Kids ages 15 and under can experience the joy of fishing during this free event. Fishing poles, tackle and bait will be provided and NIAA members will offer one-on-one coaching. No need to sign up; just show up! There will be hot chocolate and donuts too.
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The First United Methodist Church of Momence will host a Craft and Vendor Fair along with an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 5th from 8:30am until 2pm. Weather permitting, the egg hunt will begin at 10am.. All are welcome and food will be available for purchase. The church is located at 111 West Fourth Street in Momence.
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An indoor Easter Egg Hunt for children and adults with special needs will take place in the food court at Northfield Square Mall in Bradley on Saturday, April 5th from 10am until noon. Enjoy free games and photos with the Easter Bunny. Siblings are welcome to attend. Find a golden egg and win a prize! Breakfast goodies and beverages will also be sold.
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Our local Salvation Army will host their first annual Easter Egg Hunt on the Kankakee County Courthouse lawn on Saturday, April 5th. Kids will be divided into four age groups, up to 12 years-old. Participation is free and there is no pre-registration. Just show up in time for the egg hunt which begins at 10am and remember to bring along a basket or bag to collect your eggs. Tickets will be sold at one-dollar each for a chance to win one of their raffle baskets. A total of 10,000 eggs will be hidden on the courthouse lawn, with prizes awarded for finding the golden eggs. Kids can also have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny!
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The Lake Village Presbyterian Church will host their free will offering Breakfast Buffet, White Elephant and Bake Sale on Saturday April 5th from 8am until noon in the Lake Township Community Hall (the old firehouse) at 9728 North 300 West in Lake Village, Indiana. Their “Wall of Giving” breakfast fundraiser includes ham, eggs, sausage, biscuits & gravy, fresh fruit, peach cobbler and breakfast drinks. Carry Outs will be available. For more information, call the church at (219) 992-3466.
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Families are invited to join the Limestone Township Public Library on Saturday, April 5th for a free Lego Build. Stop in from 10am to 1pm and have fun together while building something wonderful with their Lego collection. The library is located at 2701 West Tower Road in Kankakee.
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You can get a FREE prom dress at the Bradley Public Library. There are no residency requirements and all teens are welcome. This event runs on Saturday April 5th. Appointments are required and they can be made by calling the library at (815) 932-6245 or by visiting their calendar at bradleylibrary.org
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The Papineau Fire Protection District will host a pancake breakfast fundraiser on Sunday, April 6th from 7am until noon. The cost will be $10 for adults and $6 for children. Kids 5 and under eat for free. They’ll be serving pancakes and sausage along with biscuits & gravy in the fire station at 100 East Taylor Street in Papineau. The proceeds from this breakfast will be used for equipment and training upgrades.
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The Momence Anchor Club hosts an all-you-can-eat breakfast on the first Sunday of every month and it’s open to the public from 8 to 11am. They offer scrambled eggs, biscuits & gravy, hash browns, sausage links and pancakes for $12 per adult and $6 for children 7 to 12 years old. Kids 6 and under can eat for free. The next one will be held on Sunday, April 6th at 3360 North Vincennes Trail in Momence.
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Good Shepherd Manor in Momence, a residential facility for men with developmental disabilities, invites you to attend its 50th Annual Brunch Auction taking place at the Chicago Marriott Southwest in Burr Ridge, Illinois on Sunday, April 6th. Doors to the event will open at 11:30am followed by a 3-hour open bar. Brunch begins at 1pm. There will be silent and live auctions. You can find all of the information online at goodshepherdmanor.org
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The Manteno United Methodist Church and “U are U” Preschool will host their annual Easter Pancake Dinner and Flashlight Egg Hunt on the evening of Thursday, April 10th. There will be crafts for sale during this family event and the dinner begins at 6:30pm for a free-will offering. Kids in the 4th grade and younger can take pictures with the Easter Bunny and hunt for candy-filled eggs in the dark, beginning at 7:30pm. Please bring your own basket and flashlight. The church is at 255 West Second Street. Visit mantenoUMC.org to RSVP.
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The Friends of the Library will be hosting a 3-day Spring Book Sale at the Peotone Public Library District on North First Street, where you can browse a great selection of used books that are now available for purchase and still in spectacular condition. This will be on Thursday, April 10th from 3 to 7pm / Friday, April 11th from 10am to 4pm / and Saturday, April 12th from 10am to 2pm. All proceeds will directly help the Peotone Public Library and the community members who use it.
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Options Center For Independent Living and the University of Illinois will host “U of I Wheelchair Basketball” on Friday, April 11th at Adventure Commons, 70 Ken Hayes Drive in Bourbonnais. Doors open at 5 and the game starts at 6pm. There will be raffle baskets, split-the-pot and concessions. Admission is $5 and free for ages 5 and under. All net proceeds will stay in our community to provide programs and services offered by Options CIL. Milner Media is a proud sponsor of this event.
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Join the Village of Bourbonnais, Village of Bradley, and Bourbonnais Township Park District for the annual Easter Eggstravaganza Trail Hunt on Saturday, April 12th. Hop on over to Perry Farm Park on Kennedy Drive in Bourbonnais that morning for an egg hunt along the trails that begins at 10am. This public event is free and open to kids ages 10 and under. Please bring a basket or bag for your eggs. More details, visit “events” under the “visitors” tab at villageofbourbonnais.com
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The Illinois Veterans Home at Manteno will host their Spring Craft Show on Friday, April 11th and Saturday, April 12th from 9am until 3pm both days with new items available for all seasons. They ask that you come in through the volunteer entrance on the north end of the campus. They are only able to accept cash or check payments. Call (815) 907-3545 with questions. The Veterans Home is at 1 Veterans Drive in Manteno.
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The Village of Manteno will be hosting their annual Easter Egg Dash at Heritage Park on Saturday, April 12th. You can enjoy treats, games and activities under the pavilion and take pictures with the Easter Bunny at 10am. The Egg Dash will begin at 11am and includes four different age zones. Heritage Park is on West Cook Street across from the Manteno Elementary School. Bring along a camera and a basket for your eggs!
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A “Dueling Pianos” fundraiser for the Child Network will be held in the Aspen/Bristol Room at the Quality Inn & Suites on Route 50 in Bradley on Saturday, April 12th at 6pm. Fun Pianos will present a high energy, all-request rock & roll and comedy piano show that you can sing and clap along with. There will be a cash bar, appetizers split-the-pot and a silent auction. The event starts at 7pm and doors open one hour prior to showtime. Tickets are $40 each and available now at childnetwork.org/events
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Riverside Senior Life Communities will host their annual Easter Egg Hunt for kids on Saturday, April 12th at 10am. Along with egg hunting in Bourbonnais Grove there will be face painting, the craft corner and special prizes for golden eggs. This will be at 85 East Burns Road in Bourbonnais. Remember to bring your favorite egg hunting basket.
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In celebration of its 125th anniversary, Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous B. Harley Bradley House in Kankakee will be open for a special Twilight Tour and Reception on Sunday, April 13th from 6:30 to 8:30pm. You can tour both floors of his first prairie-style design while enjoying drinks and refreshments and browsing the Carriage House Gift Shop. Tickets are $40 each and limited to 20. Grab yours now at wright1900.org/event/twilight-Tour. The Bradley House is at 701 South Harrison Avenue in Kankakee’s Riverview Historic District.
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Bring your kids to the annual Auxiliary Easter Egg Hunt at the Bradley American Legion on Sunday, April 13th. This will take place in their Memorial Garden and there will be two groups, ages 1 to 6 and 7 to 12. Everyone gets prizes and each side has a chance at golden egg prizes. The Easter Bunny will also be making an appearance! This is a free event but donations will be accepted and appreciated. The legion hall is at 835 West Broadway Street in Bradley.
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The Kankakee Valley Park District will host a Glow-in-the-Dark Easter Egg Hunt on Thursday, April 17th from 6 to 8pm on the grounds of the Bill Spriggs Civic Auditorium on South 8th Avenue in Kankakee. The event will include a pizza dinner, fun crafts, and photos with the Easter Bunny. Pre-registration is required by April 10th at KVPD.com
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Kentland Retail Merchants invite you to join them for their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 19th on the Newton County Courthouse Lawn at 201 North Third Street in Kentland, Indiana. This is for children ages 8 and under. The egg hunt begins at 10:30am, rain or shine!
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The Bradley Lions Club is inviting you to attend their final Pancake Breakfast of the season on the morning of Saturday, April 19th. It will be held at 428 West Broadway Street in the Bradley Community Center from 7:30 to 11am. For $8 per person you get all-you-can-eat pancakes & sausage and biscuits & gravy. Kids 5 and under eat free. For delivery of 5 orders or more call (815) 932-9180. There is no delivery fee.
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You can join the Alzheimer’s Association for “What’s Brewing With Brain Health” on Tuesday, April 22nd from 9:30 to 10:30am in the Manteno Community Center at 1211 North Main Street. This will be an engaging morning of networking and education with community leaders and all those passionate about ending Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. This event is also in partnership with the Manteno Chamber of Commerce and MCA Senior Adult Day Center. For more info, call (815) 373-5114.
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Visit the Salvation Army of Kankakee on Thursday, April 24th from 4 to 6pm for the “Pathway of Hope Community Resource Fair”. Attendees will receive resources regarding housing, nutrition, mental health, child development, education and more. There will be food to-go, raffles and door prizes. This will be at 148 North Harrison Avenue in Kankakee.
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Manteno High School will be holding their spring musical, “The Addams Family” at 7pm on Friday, April 25th and Saturday, April 26th. A third and final performance will be on Sunday, April 27th at 2pm. This takes place in the Manteno Middle School gymnasium. Admission is $5 per student or $10 per adult. Tickets can be purchased in advance at tinyurl.com/Addams2025 They will also be sold at the door.
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The Kankakee Kays Student Council will host their 2025 Spring Craft Show on Saturday, April 26th from 9am to 3pm and Sunday, April 27th from 10am to 2pm. There will be over 40 crafters and vendors to shop from, hourly raffle drawings, and class raffle baskets to win. This will be at 1200 West Jeffrey Street inside the Kankakee High School.
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A dedication ceremony for Alexis McCullough’s Gold Star Eagle Project memorial monument for Gold Star families will take place at 10am on Saturday, April 26th and you’re invited to attend. This will take place at Marcotte Park, 1140 West State Route 102 in Bourbonnais. The venue will be wheelchair accessible.
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The Chebanse American Legion will hold their 13th annual Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 27th for children 10 and under. The hunt begins at 1pm at Chebanse American Legion Park on West 4th South Street.
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The Bourbonnais Friendship Festival will issue four different scholarships this year to qualified individuals within our community. The Friendship Scholarship, Mianna Malone Scholarship and the Patte Thompson Scholarship are intended for people enrolling or who have already enrolled in college or vocational training. The Lee Braford Scholarship is intended for High School Seniors with a demonstrated dedication to community service. All applications are due Wednesday, April 30th. Learn about these scholarships and find out how to apply under the “contests” dropdown menu at bourbonnaisfriendshipfestival.com
MAY
The 15th Annual Benefit Car Show for the Caleb’s Prayer Foundation will be held on Sunday, May 18th at Phillips Auto Group of Bradley. In memory of Caleb Hoggins, this is a fundraiser to help local families impacted by cancer. It’s $20 to enter your vehicle and the first 30 people to pre-register by April 11th will receive a free event T-shirt. Day-of registration is from 9 to 11am and trophies will be awarded at 3pm. For more information, email JMB1257@sbcglobalnet or call (815) 347-4831, or visit the “Annual Benefit Car Show” page on Facebook.
JUNE
The Manteno Sons of the American Legion Squadron Post 755 are selling raffle tickets at $20 a piece for a chance to win a 2-night getaway at Blue Chip Casino and Spa. Only 500 tickets will be sold and the drawing will take place on Sunday, June 1st at 5pm. You need not be present to win. Tickets are available now through the American Legion bartenders at 117 North Walnut Street in Manteno.
AUGUST
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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