AUGUST
BLOOD DRIVES: The American Red Cross is now experiencing a blood crisis and warning that emergency blood shortage may impact patient care. The situation is dire and you can help by donating at an upcoming local blood drive. These will be held on Monday August 3rd from 1 to 6pm at the YFC City Life Center on East Court Street in Kankakee / Thursday, August 6th from noon until 6pm at Northfield Square Mall / Tuesday, August 11th from 10am to 3pm at Riverside Health Fitness Center in Bourbonnais / and again Thursday, August 20th from 11am to 5pm at Northfield Square Mall in Bradley. You can find a blood drive near you by searching your zipcode at “Red Cross Blood (dot) org”.
The 19th annual “National Night Out” celebration for Kankakee County will take place Tuesday, August 4th from 4 to 9pm at Perry Farm Park in Bourbonnais. This event will feature free food, drinks, and school supply bags while supplies last, a Salvation Army food drive and raffle, bounce houses, live musical entertainment and more. (The “Rewind Band” and “The Silhouettes” both feature Milner Media’s Bill Dyche on drums.) This nationwide event which brings neighbors and local law enforcement together under friendly circumstances will also include a K-9 demonstration, kiddie carnival rides, vendor information booths, and an appearance by retired Chicago White Sox player Steve Lyons.
The next “Manteno Market at the Square” will be held on Wednesday, August 5th from 4 until 8pm at the Square on Second in downtown Manteno. Enjoy food trucks, local vendors, and live entertainment.
Another pork chop sandwich fundraiser for Watseka’s Old Courthouse Museum will take place on Friday, August 7th. Drive through or simply walk up to the red barn on the east side of the museum at 103 West Cherry Street in Watseka that day between 4 and 6pm for a boneless and tenderized non-breaded grilled pork chop sandwich. All donations will support the work of the Iroquois County Historical Society.
The nonprofit group “Still I Rise” will host its 9th annual Back To School Supply Giveaway on Saturday, August 8th near the depot in downtown Kankakee at the Harold and Jean Miner Festival Square Hill Stage from 2 to 5pm. There will be free bookbags with school supplies, food trucks, games and activities, a DJ, bike giveaway, bounce house, face painting and more. While supplies last. All ages welcome. Admission is free.
A tornado relief benefit for the residents of Lake Village will be held on Saturday, August 8th from 5 to 11pm at the Lugene Links Golf Course, 8687 North 300 West Road in Lake Village, Indiana. This event is called “Stronger Together” and will feature a cash bar, raffle baskets, auctions, a 50/50 raffle, donation dinner, and live music by the VanVleet Brothers. Proceeds will go to the Newton County Long-Term Recovery Group.
The next “Dinner & Movie on the Green” event hosted by the Village of Bourbonnais will take place on Thursday, August 13th at the Grove in Bourbonnais. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for a family-friendly movie under the stars. Several food trucks will be available at 6pm and the 2025 “Smurfs” film will begin at 7pm. Admission is free.
The Just-Us Motorcycle Club will host their 4th annual “Luke’s Autism Ride” on Saturday, August 15th with all the proceeds going to directly support programs for local individuals with special needs through the River Valley Special Recreation Association. Registration will open at 10:30am at City Tavern on South West Avenue in Kankakee. Kickstands up at noon. The cost to participate is $20 per driver and an additional $10 per passenger. Event T-shirts will be available for purchase. Email: “K3 Just Us MC (at) gmail (dot) com” for pre-registration information.
The sixth annual Bourbonnais Food Truck Festival will take place on Saturday, August 15th from noon until 10pm at the Grove. This event will feature over 20 different food trucks, cold beverages, a Kidz Zone and lots of live entertainment. Admission and parking are free.
The Village of Manteno’s next “Rockin’ on the Square” event will take place on Friday, August 21st at the Square on Second in downtown Manteno with food trucks and live music from “Rosie and the Rivets” from 7pm until 9:30. This is a BYOB event and it’s free to attend.
The Watseka Area Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Meeting and Awards Night on Wednesday, September 2nd from 5:30 to 8:30pm at the Homestead Venue / Silo Pub and Eatery on West Walnut Street in Watseka. You’re invited out for an evening of fellowship and fundraising with live and silent auctions, a 50/50 drawing, cash bar and a delicious meal provided by the Longbranch. Your $30 ticket will include the meal and two drink tickets. The registration deadline is Friday, August 21st. Call (815) 432-2416 to purchase your tickets today.
A Fish Fry Fundraiser will take place at the Manteno Sportsman’s Club on Friday, August 28th from 5 to 7pm with a cash bar, raffle baskets, split-the-pot and live music by The Fedoras. Nothing Bundt Cakes will also be there while supplies last. Presale tickets are required for entry and they are available now at the Manteno Public Library.
SEPTEMBER
The “Two Rivers Fall Festival” will take place Friday, September 11th and Saturday, September 12th in Aroma Park. Enjoy food, drinks, kids activities, music, contests and a fireworks display.
Operation Firm Handshake will host its 13th annual Veterans Picnic on Saturday, September 12th from 10am to 5pm at 1500 North Broadway Street in Coal City. All Illinois veterans and active duty service personnel are invited to bring their families to enjoy Illinois’ largest free veterans picnic including a pig roast, door prizes, split-the-pot, entertainment, a bean bag tournament and fun for the kids. This is organized by local Grundy County veterans. Remember to bring a lawn chair.
The Peotone Historical Society’s 24th annual “Old Mill Fall Fest” will take place Saturday, September 19th from 4 to 11pm at the Peotone Mill on West Corning Avenue. Enjoy craft beer, food, dancing, and live music by the “Rockaholics”. Proceeds from this end-of-summer event will help with the preservation of this historic local landmark. More info on facebook or at “Peotone Historical Society (dot) org”.
Local nonprofit organization “Let’s Ketchup” will host its third annual Family Fun Fest on Saturday, September 19th from 11am to 2pm at Adventure Commons located behind the mall at 70 Ken Hayes Drive in Bourbonnais. There will be activities for all ages including games, crafts, face-painting, raffle items and an inflatable funland. Entry is free but donations will be accepted. Food will be available for purchase.
The 32nd annual “Christmas Golf in September” scramble will be taking place at the Kankakee Elks Country Club in Saint Anne on Wednesday, September 23rd. Lunch is at 11am, shotgun start will be at noon, and dinner begins at 5pm. This is the sole fundraiser for “Christmas Day, Inc.” with the money going to provide free dinners at several Kankakee County locations for our neighbors who might otherwise be alone on Christmas Day. Sponsors are needed, as well as participants. Visit the “Christmas Day, Inc.” facebook page for details, or call (815) 932-3000.