SEPTEMBER
You can join the Village of Bourbonnais at The Grove on Wednesday, September 10th for “Lunchtime Bites & Beats on Festival Street”. Enjoy food trucks from Bamboo Island and Jimmy Jo’s BBQ along with live music by Shelby Ryan from 11am to 1pm.
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Those seeking employment opportunities should plan to attend the Kankakee Community College Fall Job Fair on Thursday, September 11th. This will take place in KCC’s College Center from 9am to 1pm. To view a list of employers who have signed up to be there, visit kcc.edu and select “Career Services” under the “Student Resources” tab. Once there, click “Job Fairs” near the top of the “Career Services” page.
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Bring your family to the next “Dinner and Movie on the Green” hosted by the Village of Bourbonnais on Friday, September 12th. Remember your lawn chairs and blankets for this outdoor event held at The Grove. It begins at 6pm with food and shaved ice available for purchase. A free screening of “Shrek” will start at 7pm, and closed-captioning will be available.
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Martinton Fire and EMS will host a “Day in the Park” on Friday and Saturday, September 12th and 13th with a vendor and craft show, kids activities, bingo, live entertainment, concessions and a beer tent both days. Other Friday highlights include a car show beginning at 4pm, a Barnyard Tractor Pull at 5:30, and live music from the “Country Roots Band” at 7pm. Come back on Saturday morning for breakfast at the Martinton Church from 7:30 to 10:30am, the Grand Parade at 10am, an RC Tractor Pull at 11 o’clock, another Barnyard Tractor Pull at noon, and live music from “Lantern’s Road” begins at 8pm. Visit the “Martinton Fire Protection District” Facebook page for further information.
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The world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research will be taking place locally on Saturday, September 13th. It’s the Walk to End Alzheimer’s for Kankakee and Iroquois County, and participants will meet at the Square on Second in Manteno with festivities beginning at 8:30am. Our own Bess Jess and Rob West will be on hand until the opening ceremony at 9:30. The walk is set to begin promptly at 10am. For more information and to register for the walk, please visit alz.org and key in your zip code to search for the Manteno event.
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Experience the ultimate fusion of training, food and shopping with “Guns n Grub”, presented by the USCCA on Saturday, September 13th at the ISRA Range in Bonfield. Beginning at 9am, this one-of-a-kind event will be a day filled with excitement, learning and delicious flavors; combining firearms training with great food and a vibrant shopping experience. For more information, visit gunsngrub.net
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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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Good Shepherd Manor’s 34th annual Fall Festival will take place on Saturday, September 13th from 10am to 4pm at 4129 Illinois Route 17 in Momence. Admission and parking are free. They’ll have a bake sale, mums, Bingo, a cash raffle drawing, craft booths, a fun and games area, food, beer and live entertainment. Be there for the “Good Shepherd Manor Resident Revue” on the main stage at 11:30am, followed by live music from “The Back Paiges” at 12:30pm. Proceeds from this event will benefit men with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Options Center for Independent Living will host ten fun games of Bingo on Sunday, September 14th in the Watseka Elks Lodge at 111 North Third Street. The first game starts at 2pm and the doors open one hour prior. The cost will be $20 for a packet of 10 sheets. Additional packs will also be available for purchase. The proceeds from this afternoon of fun with Bingo will go to fund Options’ programs and services for people in Iroquois and Kankakee Counties who are living with disabilities.
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It’s time for the 31st annual “Christmas Golf in September” scramble to raise funds that the organization “Christmas Day, Inc.” will use to provide more than a thousand free Christmas Day dinners to people in Kankakee County who may have otherwise done without or spent the holiday alone. This golf fundraiser will take place at Oak Springs Golf Course in St. Anne on Wednesday, September 17th with lunch at 11am, a shotgun start at noon, and dinner served at 5pm. Both golfers and sponsors are needed. To register or for more information, call Randy Van Fossan at (815) 932-3000 or visit the “Christmas Day, Inc.” page on facebook.
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Join the Kankakee County Museum in the Column Garden on Thursday, September 18th for “A Little Night Music with David Lahm. Beginning at 6pm there will be hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar available. A soothing jazz performance by renowned pianist David Lahm and special guests will take place from 7 to 8pm, followed by dessert. Tickets are $25 and available now at kankakeecountymuseum.com
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The Peotone Historical Society will host their 23rd annual “Old Mill Fall Fest” on Saturday and Sunday, September 20th and 21st on West Corning Avenue at the Peotone Mill. On Saturday from 4 to 9pm they’ll have craft beer, food, bags and live music by the “Rockaholics” in the big tent. On Sunday from 11am to 4pm, enjoy old-time crafts, vendors and merchandise sales, food, a bake sale, Civil War Camp, old-time demonstrators and games for the kids. There will also be a quilt raffle, face-painting, living history actors, ice cream, kettle corn and more. You can even explore all 4 floors of the mill. Admission and parking are free.
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The Illinois Veterans Home at Manteno will host their biannual Craft Show in Veterans Hall on Friday, September 19th and Saturday, September 20th from 9am to 3pm both days. They will have a wide assortment of veteran-made items available for fall, winter, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and more. Cash or check payment only.
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Before the car show season comes to an end, our friends at Blain’s Farm & Fleet will be hosting a big one in their parking lot on Saturday, September 20th. Stop by to check out the cool vintage and custom vehicles during this day of community fun at the Blain’s Farm & Fleet Car Show from 10am until 2pm on Route 50 in Bourbonnais
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The Bradley Lions Club will be hosting an all-you-can-eat breakfast with pancakes, sausage and biscuits & gravy on Saturday, September 20th from 7:30 to 11am inside the Bradley Community Center at 428 West Broadway Street. They’ll serve pancakes and sausage with biscuits and gravy for $8 per person. Kids 5 and under eat for free. For free delivery of five orders or more, call (815) 932-9180.
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The local nonprofit organization “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 and bounce houses, face-painting, balloon animals, crafts, raffles, games and more. The funds raised by this group are used to eliminate student lunch debt in our area schools.
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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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Join Olivet Nazarene University and the Village of Bourbonnais for their “Pops in the Park” concert at The Grove on Tuesday, September 22nd. Beginning at 7pm, the University Orchestra and Concert Singers will perform a 70-minute concert under the direction of Dr. Neal Woodruff during this free and family-friendly event. Come early for food trucks and other free activities starting at 6pm. Should weather be an issue, the event would take place the following day. All are welcome to attend.
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American Lutheran Church at 1560 Career Center Road in Bourbonnais invites you to give blood and help save lives during their American Red Cross Blood Drive on Tuesday, September 23rd from 1 to 6pm. Donors will be served Sloppy Joe sandwiches, juice, popcorn, fruit, and freshly baked desserts. You’ll need two forms of ID such as a driver’s license or blood donor card. Make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or sign up with sponsor code 040004363 at redcrossblood.org
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In recognition of September being both Suicide Prevention and National Self-Care Awareness month, Mindful Living Centers and the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization “Racing for Mental Health” will shift mental health awareness into high gear with their “Drive to Thrive” charity event on Wednesday, September 24th. This is a 90-minute karting event where teams compete both on the track and in fundraising to support mental health advocacy, education and outreach. Each team of 4 to 8 drivers ages 16 or older must raise a minimum of $5,000 and there is a $1,000 entry fee to secure their spot. The event will last from 1 to 4pm and will take place at the Kart Circuit Autobahn on Centerpoint Way in Joliet. There will be winners for Top Fundraiser and Race Champion. Get more information and register at: racingformentalhealth.com
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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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The Brandon Pink Foundation and Project Pinky will host “Brandon’s Ride for Suicide Awareness” on Sunday, October 5th. All vehicles are welcome to join this 50-mile ride through the southlands which departs from Coal City High School at 10am. A balloon-release ceremony and prayer will take place beforehand at 9am. The ride will conclude at Old Smokey City Park in Braidwood where the “Project Pinky Festival” will be going on from 11am until 6pm with family-friendly fun including food trucks, bounce houses, vendors a car show, a Jeep-decorating contest, 50/50 drawing, raffles, and live music from Jake Vaughn followed by “The Traveling Radio Show”. Visit projectpinky.org for more info.
NOVEMBER
The Reddick Community Fire Protection District will host a Craft and Vendor Show in the fire station at 210 East Main Street on Saturday, November 15th and Sunday, November 16th from 8am to 2pm both days. Proceeds will go toward the Reddick Firefighter’s Association Equipment Fund. They will also hold a Pancake Breakfast that Sunday morning (11/16) from 7am until noon in the Community Room. If you are a crafter or vendor interested in renting a 10×10 space, you can send an email to ryankourtni@gmail.com for a vendor application.
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