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Taste of Melrose Park
Celebrate the 42nd anniversary of Taste of Melrose Park! Enjoy food, live music, carnival rides and, if you come on Sept. 1, a fireworks display! See for yourself why this beloved community event has been happening annually for four decades.
Location: Melrose Park
In Ernie's Footsteps: A Walking Tour of Young Hemingway's Oak Park
See where the Nobel Prize-winning author got his start with the "In Ernie's Footsteps: A Walking Tour of Young Hemingway's Oak Park." This 90-minute tour explores young Hemingway’s connections to Oak Park, guided by Dr. Nancy Sindelar, author of "Influencing Hemingway: The People and Places That Shaped His Life and Work." The tour includes a copy of the book as well.
Location: Oak Park
Maywood Fest
Maywood Fest is back Sept. 6-8 with fun for the whole family at Veterans Park. Expect good great, retail vendors, entertainment, dancing, games and more! You can bet you'll have a blast at Maywood Fest.
Location: Maywood
Art for All: Studio 928 Open House
Come see Oak Park's newest events space and arts hub at Studio 928's open house Sept. 7. Learn about available classes, enjoy a live painting experience, view exceptional works of art and have some drinks and nibbles.
Location: Oak Park
Artist Reception: Raphael Nieves
The Riverside Arts Center is pleased to present local designer Raphael Nieves’ exhibition of graphic posters at the Riverside Town Hall and welcomes you to attend the reception for the artist Sept. 8.
Location: Riverside
Zoo Run
Stretch your legs and get your heart rate up at the Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Zoo Run, the proceeds of which benefit the Brookfield Zoo Chicago Animal Care and Conservation Fund. Courses are entirely within the zoo with a 5k race and a one-mile fun run for the kids. Sign up today!
Location: Brookfield
Oak Park Film Festival
Cinephiles, clear your calendar for Sept. 12 and 14 and pencil in the Oak Park Film Festival, an exhilarating celebration of cinema dedicated to showcasing independent filmmakers and films with ties to Oak Park. This event promises to be a smash hit for local and national film enthusiasts alike.
Location: Oak Park
Oaktoberfest
Celebrate the changing seasons at Oaktoberfest in downtown Oak Park. Enjoy an exciting live music line up, delicious foods from local restaurants, specialty craft beers and a kids root beer garden.
Location: Oak Park
Talk with the Artist: Yvette Marie Dostatni
Riverside Arts Center is hosting photographic artist Yvette Marie Dostatni for a special Sept. 14 chat about her work, the artistic process and personal identity. Dostatni's work is on display at the Riverside Arts Center's Free Ark Gallery from Sept. 8 through Oct 12. The exhibit, titled, "Face Value: Identities Both Seen and Unseen," was curated by Laura Husar Garcia.
Location: Riverside
La Grange Home and History Tour
Join the La Grange Historical Society for the 2024 Home and History Tour . Visitors will enjoy touring six unique residences with homeowners available to answer questions and chat about their experience living in their home!
Location: La Grange
In Ernie's Footsteps: A Walking Tour of Young Hemingway's Oak Park
See where the Nobel Prize-winning author got his start with the "In Ernie's Footsteps: A Walking Tour of Young Hemingway's Oak Park." This 90-minute tour explores young Hemingway’s connections to Oak Park, guided by Dr. Nancy Sindelar, author of "Influencing Hemingway: The People and Places That Shaped His Life and Work." The tour includes a copy of the book as well.
Location: Oak Park
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Autumn Fest & Chili Cook-off
Spice things up in North Riverside at the village's annual Autumn Fest & Chili Cook-off Sept. 20! There will be a scarecrow contest, face painting, balloon artist, music, inflatables and, of course, lots of chili to eat. See which batch snags the "Chili Cup" trophy.
Location: North Riverside
Hispanic Heritage Fest
Join Brookfield Zoo Chicago for Hispanic Heritage Fest, a new and vibrant zoo event in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Delight in live music, delectable cuisine, cultural performances and more—all included with your zoo admission for a day of celebration and exploration!
Location: Brookfield
West End Arts Festival
This juried art festival is a favorite for both fine artists and families! On top of art shopping, the annual West End Arts Festival celebrates the arts with demos, activities, food, wine and beer, kids activities, music and live art. The festival has free admission and parking, as well as being easily accessible from the BNSF Metra line.
Location: La Grange
"There Goes the Neighborhood" Gangster Tour
Book your tickets now for a tour so fun, it should be criminal! Those on the tour will go through Oak Park and River Forest, visiting 15 houses, all of which were once occupied by major mobsters. Led by mob historian John Binder, you'll learn about the criminal careers of the former home owners, unique features of each building and rare information about the times spent inside.
Location: Oak Park, River Forest
Children's Day on Lake Street
Families come to Lake Street Sept. 22 and enjoy dancing and playing at the first “Children’s Day on Lake Street," featuring children's performer Jim Gill and family bingo! Co-hosted by Pilgrim Community Preschool, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Oak Park River Forest Museum and One Lake Brewing.
Location: Oak Park
Oak Park Fall Fest
Join the Park District of Oak Park at its free, family-friendly Fall Fest in Rehm Park and Oak Park Conservatory! Enjoy a carnival with rides, music, games, and local food vendors at the park.
Live bats and skunks will be at the conservatory, along with pumpkin carving demonstrations, activities in the conservatory's discovery garden, and the fall mum and bulb sale.
Location: Oak Park
Hispanic Heritage Month Wine Dinner
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Hoja by sipping on the restaurant's collection of Mexican wines served with a three-course meal.
Location: Oak Park
Uncorked
Savor the end of summer with an evening of music and drinks under the stars in the Rubinstein Garden at the beautiful Oak Park Conservatory. Admission includes two drink tickets and an appetizer.
Location: Oak Park
Riverside Hop Stop
Sample over 50 offerings from local breweries, cideries, and cocktail crafters, including Riverside’s own Quincy Street Distillery, at the Riverside Hop Stop festival.
Make use of the free bicycle valet, bring a designated driver, or take the Metra, which drops you right outside. There will be local food vendors, art activities for children (under 12 are admitted free with ticket) and live music to round out a wonderful outdoor family friendly setting in the arboretum of Riverside.
Location: Riverside
Oktoberfest
Prost to Oktoberfest and the season of donning your lederhosen and enjoying live polka music at Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Oktoberfest, presented by Leinenkugel's. The festive event, which takes place on the zoo’s east mall, is free with general admission. In addition to taking in the sounds of Oktoberfest, a seasonal menu featuring bratwursts, sausages, pretzels with beer cheese, and more is available for purchase.
Location: Brookfield
Duck Race
See if your rubber duck beats the rest as they race down Salt Creek from Washington Avenue to Brookfield Village Hall at the annual Duck Race event, the proceeds of which benefit the Brookfield Parks and Recreation Foundation. The winning ducks will score big cash prizes!
Location: Brookfield
Brookfield Fine Arts Festival
If you love fine art, head to the Brookfield Fine Arts Festival, where you'll see beautiful works of art, from painting and drawing to photography and sculpture. There will be live music, food trucks, and a sidewalk chalk art competition.
Location: Brookfield
Monarch Fest
North Riverside, in partnership with MWRD, is proud to host this year’s Monarch Festival—Festival de la Monarca, celebrating the monarch butterfly's more than 2,000-mile migration from Canada to Mexico and raising awareness about conservation.
Head to Commons Park on Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for great food, live music, fun activities and more!
Location: North Riverside
"There Goes the Neighborhood" Gangster Tour
Book your tickets now for a tour so fun, it should be criminal! Those on the tour will go through Oak Park and River Forest, visiting 15 houses, all of which were once occupied by major mobsters. Led by mob historian John Binder, you'll learn about the criminal careers of the former home owners, unique features of each building and rare information about the times spent inside.
Location: Oak Park, River Forest
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Forest Home Cemetery Bicycle Tour
Join the Historical Society of Forest Park on an exciting bike tour of Forest Home Cemetery! This tour explores more than just the well-trodden sites, visiting such intriguing locations as the Potawatami burial mound, the Ancient Order of Druids in America plot, a Civil War mortar cannon, famous preacher Billy Sunday's memorial and more.
Location: Forest Park