FEBRUARY
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and Harbor House has several events, interactive activities, educational opportunities and community-wide initiatives scheduled during the month. Parents and professionals can attend the free “Culture Shock” webinar on Tuesday, February 25th. Be sure to also check out the teen art initiative “Love Is”, to be displayed at local schools during Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Learn more about the events and register at LINKTR.EE/HHTDVAM
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The Legacy Grandparenting Summit is coming by simulcast to Manteno Church of the Nazarene on both Friday, February 21st and Saturday, February 22nd. Choose your date and hear from top-notch Christian speakers like Dr. Jeff Myers, Rob Rienow, Trudy Cathy White, and Anne Graham Lotz, to help fulfill your biblical role as a Christian grandparent. To learn more and register, visit legacycoalition.com/summit and choose the Manteno Church of the Nazarene Host Site.
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You can join the Zonta Club of Kankakee for “Party Gras” on Saturday, February 22nd, featuring a dinner buffet, cash bar, an auction, raffles and live music from The South Side Social Club. This is a fundraiser to support local and national service projects dedicated to empowering women and girls. The event will take place at the Knights of Columbus on South Indiana Avenue in Kankakee. Doors open at 5pm and dinner begins at 6 o’clock. Tables of 8 can be reserved and tickets are $50 per person. Reserve your spot through Venmo at “ZontaKankakee1956” or message “ZontaKankakee@gmail.com”.
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During Black History Month the Kankakee Public Library will be hosting “Taste of Soul” every Friday in February on the first floor from 11:30am to 1pm. This will give patrons an opportunity to enjoy offerings from local black-owned food vendors and purchase from their menus while enjoying a bit of live entertainment. This event is open to the public and free to attend. For info regarding the vendor and entertainment schedules, you can email “SRobinson@Lions-online.org”.
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The American Red Cross will be hosting local blood drives on Friday, February 28th from 10am until 4pm inside Riverside Medical Center at 350 North Wall Street in Kankakee / Wednesday, March 5th from 1 to 6pm at the Knights of Columbus in Kankakee / Thursday, March 6th from 11am to 5pm at Northfield Square Mall in Bradley / and Monday, March 10th from noon to 5:30pm inside the Saint Anne Community High School. Give the gift of life by donating blood. For more info or to find a blood drive near you, visit redcrossblood.org
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The Salvation Army of Kankakee will host a Daddy-Daughter Dance from 2 to 4pm on Saturday, March 8th at 148 North Harrison Avenue in Kankakee. The cost is $20 for Dad and $10 per daughter. Dinner will be included. RSVP with payment by February 28th. Register in person or online at centralUSA.salvationarmy.org/kankakee. Call (815) 933-8421 for more information.
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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.
MARCH
A Daddy-Daughter Dance called “Me & My Lucky Charm” will take place on Friday, March 7th from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the Manteno Elementary School. Admission is $25 per couple and $5 each additional “date”. You must RSVP by March 1st to gabesmama7611@gmail.com This is not a school-sponsored event.
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A fundraising event to kick off the 125th anniversary of architect Frank Lloyd Wright designing Kankakee’s famous B. Harley Bradley House will be held inside this historic landmark on Saturday, March 1st. This will be an old-fashioned whodunit mystery performed by local members of a Sherlock Holmes Club. An Academy Award has been stolen from a Hollywood Oscar Party and it’s your job to apprehend the thief and get it back. This is for adults over 21 and there will be two shows only. Tickets are $50 each and they include refreshments. They are available now at Eventbrite.com. Just search “The Oscar Vanishes” at Kankakee events. For questions and additional information, call (815) 936-9630.
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The Kankakee River Valley’s “New Horizons Band” will perform a free concert on Monday, March 3rd beginning at 7pm in Kresge Auditorium on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais. All are invited to attend.
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St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School will host their 160th Anniversary Blast Party on Saturday, March 15th in the Banquet Room at the Quality Inn & Suites on Route 50 in Bradley. Doors to the event open at 6 o’clock and the dinner will be served at 7pm. Local cover band “Cosmic Rewind” (featuring Bill Dyche on drums) will provide the entertainment. There will be live and online auctions taking place throughout the evening. Event tickets are $50 per person and they include a 3-course meal, one cocktail or mocktail and entertainment. Tickets are on sale now through March 3rd. Visit “ST Pauls Lutheran (dot) net” for additional details.
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The Chebanse American Legion Post 408 and their Auxiliary will be holding a Fish Fry on Friday, March 7th in the Chebanse Community Building at 185 South Chestnut Street from 5 until 7pm. Dine-in or carry out. The cost is $12 for adults, just $6 for children ages 6 to 12, and kids 5 and under eat for free. You’ll get fried fish, potato salad, coleslaw, chips and a drink. A hot dog option will be available for the kids.
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The famous X-Line Sportsmans Club “Door County-Style” Fish Boil will be held on Friday, March 7th from 4:30 to 7:30pm or until the food runs out. It’s all-you-can-eat for $15. Just $7.50 for kids 12 and under. A cash bar will be available. It’s at 4800 East Exline Club Road in Kankakee.
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The “Rockin’ 30” Easter Seals Celebration of Giving Telethon will be taking place from noon until 6pm on Saturday, March 8th at Heroes West Sports Grill in Joliet. Your donations will support Easter Seals and their life changing programs for children and adults with disabilities. Enjoy performances from local bands and hear inspiring stories from Spotlight Ambassadors as you help them change lives. The telethon will broadcast live on community access channels throughout the region and online at joliet.eastersealsccom. You’re also invited to attend the telethon in person at 1530 Commerce Lane in Joliet.
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The Kankakee Public Library will host their annual FantasyCon from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, March 8th. Fun for the whole family, this is a small pop culture celebration of fantasy, anime, sci-fi, superheroes, and more. The event will feature authors, artists, collectors, creators, and sellers. Games will be played and cosplay is encouraged. Visit Lions-Online.org or contact the library for more details at (815) 939-4564. They’re at 201 East Merchant Street in downtown Kankakee.
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Laugh For A Cause with The Second City on Saturday, March 8th at the Quality Inn & Suites in Bradley. Along with improv comedy, you can enjoy a happy hour with appetizers, a split-the-pot raffle, and participate in live and silent auctions. Doors open at 5:30 and the show is at 7pm. Tickets available now at HarborHouse.BetterWorld.org. All proceeds raised at “Laugh for a Cause” will support domestic violence survivors in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties through Harbor House.
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The Bradley Lions Club will host their next monthly Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, March 15th from 7:30 to 11am at 428 West Broadway Street inside the Bradley Community Center. Enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage and biscuits & gravy for $8 per person. Kids 5 and under eat for free. In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, they will have a “Showing Of The Green” contest where attendees can try to guess the number of candy pieces in the pot of gold to win! For deliveries of 5 orders or more, call (815) 932-9180. There is no delivery fee.
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The Kankakee Valley Theatre Association will be presenting two performances of “Shrek The Musical, Junior” at the Lincoln Cultural Center in Kankakee on Saturday, March 15th at 2pm and 7pm. A third and final performance will take place on Sunday, March 16th at 2pm. Tickets are available now at KVTA.org
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The springtime “Collector Con” will be held in the Expo building at the Kankakee County Fairgrounds on Sunday, March 23rd from 10am until 4pm. Admission is $3. Early admission at 9:30am is 5 bucks. You’ll find new and vintage toys, cards, comic books, coins, video games, collectibles and more at 213 West 4000 South Road in Kankakee.
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The Bradley Lions Club will host an Easter Ham Dinner on Saturday, March 29th open to the public from 4 to 7pm in the Bradley Community Center at 428 West Broadway Street. The dinner is $12 per person and it will include ham, a vegetable, potato, a roll, salad, dessert and a drink. For children 6 to 10 years-old it’s just 6 bucks. Kids 5 and under eat for free. This is a fundraiser for the Bradley Lions and the Easter Bunny will be there for photo-ops. Call (815) 932-9180 for more info. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite, and will also be available at the door.
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The Manteno United Methodist Church will be hosting a Craft Fair on Saturday, March 29th. Shop from several different vendors and crafters from 9am until 2pm while enjoying treats from Nothing Bundt Cakes, inside the church at 255 West Second Street in Manteno.
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Your Bradley Menards is serving as a drop site for a local food pantry through the end of March. From boxes of cereal to cans of soup, Menards offers a wide variety of non-perishable food items in their grocery department which can be purchased for immediate donation to the food pantry. Our local Menards is located at 1260 Christine Drive in Bradley.
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The Bourbonnais Township Park District would like all community members to take a moment between now and March 31st to complete their online Recreation Needs Assessment Survey. This will help them shape the future of parks and programs. They would like your opinion on what they are doing well, what they can do to improve, what programs you would like to see, and how they might better serve you. Take the survey now at BTPD.org/Survey
APRIL
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
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Clove Alliance is celebrating 25 years of compassionate service and impact in Iroquois County, where it has provided support to survivors of sexual violence since 1999. They invite the community to help celebrate their legacy of hope and healing by attending a Business Before Hours event in partnership with the Watseka Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, April 2nd (2025) at 1801 North State Route 1 in Watseka. To donate or volunteer to assist in their work of supporting survivors in Kankakee, Iroquois and Ford Counties, visit CloveAlliance.org
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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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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.
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.