MAY
In collaboration with King Music and The Dave King Memorial Music Fund, organizers of the Merchant Street MusicFest will award a Music Education Scholarship at this year’s fest on Saturday, July 26th. The award is for 8 free weeks of music lessons. This is for students entering grades 5 through 12 in the 2025/26 school year. There will be two age categories. Applications are being accepted through Saturday, May 31st and they can be found online at merchantstreetmusicfest.com
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You can give the gift of life by donating blood and platelets to the American Red Cross during one of their upcoming local blood drives, which include: Tuesday, May 13th from 11am to 5pm at Northfield Square Mall in Bradley / and again on Thursday, May 22nd at Northfield Square Mall from 11am to 5pm. For more info or to find a blood drive near you, visit redcrossblood.org today.
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A local father recently sustained a brain injury which has left him incapacitated and medical bills are piling up for his family during this uncertain time. You can help on Saturday, May 10th when a benefit with food, drinks and a basket raffle will take place on West Station Street in Kankakee at “On The Rox”, beginning at 3pm. Admission to “Kaden’s Fundraiser & Benefit” is a $5 donation at the door. You’re asked to wear blue or green to the event to represent TBI and brain injury awareness.
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Donate while you dine on Wednesday, May 14th at Culver’s on Route 45 in Bourbonnais. Between 5 and 8 pm that evening 10% of all sales will be donated to “Let’s Ketchup”, a nonprofit organization that will use the funds raised to eliminate lunch debt for students in our local schools.
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Dunkin’s “Cop on a Rooftop” event returns on Friday, May 16th as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois. From 5am until 2pm that day, stop by to donate, get merch, eat donuts and meet local police officers at most area Dunkin’ locations, including the ones in Bourbonnais on East Bethel Drive, and on the corner of North Convent and Bourbonnais Parkway at the Gas N Wash.
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A Spring Fever Craft and Vendor Fair will be held at the Kankakee Area YMCA on Saturday, May 17th from 4 to 7pm. This event will support their summer camp program. Aside from the vendors, the Y kids will have some of their art on display. It’s free admission and open to the public at 1075 Kennedy Drive in Kankakee.
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Celebrate 150 years of Bourbonnais at The Grove at Goselin Park on Saturday, May 17th from 6 to 10pm. Attend “Hooray, Bourbonnais!”, featuring catered cuisine available to purchase, along with beer, wine and other beverages for sale. This event is open to the public and includes a free live outdoor concert by “Spoken Four” from Maggie Speaks. More info at villageofbourbonnais.com
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The Newton County 4-H Council invites you to their “Swing Into Spring” Craft Show and Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 17th from 9am until 2pm. Breakfast and lunch will be served. It all takes place in their 4-H building at the Newton County Fairgrounds in Kentland, Indiana.
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Internationally touring Christian comedian, author and podcaster Tracy DeGraaf will take the stage for a night of laughter, encouragement and faith on Saturday, May 17th inside the Lake Village Fire Department Community Room. Doors open at 6:30 and the show starts at 7pm. This special 2-hour event is being hosted by the Lake Village Presbyterian Church. There will be door prizes, snacks, a photo booth, and free gifts to the first 100 ticket holders attending. Limited seating is available. Tickets are $20 each and available online at TracyDeGraaf.com The fire department is at 9728 North 300 West in Lake Village, Indiana.
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Saint Joseph’s Holy Name Society in Bradley will be holding their pork chop drive-thru on Sunday, May 18th from 10:30am to 1:30pm at 211 North Center Avenue in Bradley. Attendees should enter behind the school via Grove Street. For $9 you get a pork chop sandwich along with applesauce and chips. Make it an even $10 to include a bottle of water. Proceeds will be used for ongoing work on the church to enhance access ability issues and more.
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The 35th Annual Rhubarb Festival will be held on Sunday, May 18th from 10am until 4pm on the grounds of the Kankakee County Museum on South 8th Avenue in Kankakee. Celebrate this beloved plant with delicious rhubarb dishes, fun activities, contests, crafters, vendors, live musical entertainment and more. It’s free to attend. Visit KankakeeCountyMuseum.com for further details.
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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.
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You can assist the Kankakee County Museum in raising the funds that are needed to replace their roof on Monday, May 19th by purchasing food from Culver’s on Route 45 in Bourbonnais. Between the hours of 5 and 8pm that evening the restaurant will donate 10% of all sales to the museum to help them preserve our local history.
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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, is currently meeting up from 5pm to 7:30 every other Wednesday evening, through August 13th. This is free to attend, parents and guardians are encouraged to come along, and fishing poles, tackle and bait are all provided. With a skills focus of “Cops ‘n Bobbers”, the club will meet next on Wednesday, May 21st at the Bourbonnais Municipal Pond. Visit K3SAO.com/fish for more information.
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Downtown Kankakee will host an evening to kick off the summer season on Friday, May 30th with another “Sunset Stroll” from 6 to 10pm on North Schuyler Avenue. There will be live music from “Mothpoint” and the “South Side Social Club”, along with a taco truck, a pizza truck and other local vendors. You’ll enjoy great community vibes while the sun sets against the backdrop of Kankakee’s historic downtown area.
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Your local Menards home improvement store is currently serving as a drop site for a local Humane Association. Their Pet & Wildlife Department at Menards offers a wide variety of pet supplies including food, treats, feeders, collars, beds, storage containers, mats and more that can be purchased in store for immediate donation. You’ll find a large collection box near the exit doors. Our local Menards is located at 1260 Christine Drive in Bradley. Their Pet Supplies Drive is running now through the end of May.
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The Salvation Army of Kankakee will host a Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, May 31st from 9am to 11am at 148 North Harrison Avenue in Kankakee. They’ll have pancakes, bacon, potatoes, coffee and milk. The cost is $10 per person and this money will fund a trip for the kids in their after-school program to visit Camp Wonderland in Wisconsin.
JUNE
The Community Arts Council of Kankakee County will host their annual “Strawberry Jazz Festival” on Sunday, June 1st from 11am to 4pm at Northfield Square Mall in Bradley. There will be artists and crafters, music, food trucks and lots of fun. For more information, visit communityartscouncil.org or find them on facebook.
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Local veterans’ organization “Project Headspace and Timing” will host their annual “Heroes, Hogs & Hot Rods” community festival to celebrate our heroes on Sunday, June 1st in downtown Manteno on Main Street and the Square on 2nd from noon until 8pm. With outdoor bar service and free entry, this family-friendly event will feature live music, food trucks, craft vendors, a car show, strongman and BBQ competitions, a bean bag tournament, Mental Health & Community Resource Fair, an Air Force simulator and more. Denny Case will emcee the stage. For more information, visit projectheadspaceatndiming.org
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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.
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Join the Bourbonnais Township Park District for the return of “Food Truck Fridays”, every Friday afternoon during the months of June, July and August from 11am to 2pm at Perry Farm Park with a different food truck each week. The first one of the season will be on Friday, June 6th with “Pasta La Vista”. Visit BTPD.org to see future food trucks.
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The Bourbonnais Friendship Festival will hold their annual Kids Cane Pole Fishing Derby for those 12 and under on Saturday, June 28th from 9am to noon. Registration begins at 8:30am at Municipal Center Pond.
JULY
The Bourbonnais Grove Historical Society will host their Les Artisans Arts and Crafts Fair on Friday, July 4th from 9am to 3pm in the Expo Center at the Kankakee County Fairgrounds. There will be dozens of artists and fine crafters offering handmade items and original art, along with local honey, jams and jellies, baked goods and more. You can also meet local authors and artists. There will be food for sale, beverages from Love A Latte will be available to sip while you shop, and Sweet Darren’s will be offering homemade ice cream, A suggested one-dollar donation at the door will help the historical society to fund this event in the future. Visit bourbonnaishistory.org for more information.
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AUGUST
The Northern Mustang Corral will host their 34th Annual Mustang and Ford Car Show at Perry Farm Park in Bourbonnais on Sunday, August 3rd. Enjoy the cars, food, music and door prizes. Registration is $20 in advance or $25 the day of the event. Show time is 8am, judging starts at 11am, and the trophy presentation will begin at 2:30pm. This will be happening rain or shine. For more, visit northernmustangcorral.org, find them on Facebook, or email stang255@comcast.net
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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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