SEPTEMBER
BLOOD DRIVES: The American Red Cross is 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 Friday, September 4th from 10am to 4pm in Kankakee’s Riverside Medical Center / Thursday, September 17th from 11am to 5pm at Northfield Square Mall in Bradley / Thursday, October 1st from noon to 6pm at Northfield Square Mall / and Saturday, October 3rd from 7 to 11am at the Saint Anne High School. Locate an upcoming blood drive near you at “Red Cross Blood (dot) org”.
The Salvation Army of Kankakee’s annual Toy Shop sign-up period is active through October 31st. Kankakee County residents needing assistance in providing gifts for their children this Christmas can sign up now at “SA Angel Tree (dot) org”. Spots are limited.
The Kankakee Quiltmakers are inviting the public to attend the Grand Opening of their special Quilt Exhibit at the Kankakee County Museum this Thursday, September 17th at 1pm. Club members will be present at 1pm to talk about their quilts, discuss the art of quilting and answer any questions attendees may have. This exhibit will remain on display through November 7th, the day of the museum’s annual Artisan Faire. The Kankakee County Museum is located on the grounds of Governor Small Memorial Park at 801 South 8th Avenue in Kankakee.
The Bradley American Legion will host an evening of live Country music with the “James Michael Travis Band” this Friday, September 18th and the fun starts at 8pm. A Dolly Parton look-alike contest is going to be held during this performance and our Denny Case has been invited to be one of the three guest judges. There is a $20 fee to join this contest. The winner receives half, and the other half of the money raised will be donated to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
The Onarga American Legion Post 551 will host a Fish Fry this Friday, September 18th in their Legion Hall at Durham Park in Onarga from 4:30 to 7pm. The meal is $12 and includes delicious beer-battered fish along with fries, baked beans, green beans and coleslaw. Drinks will be sold separately. The Legion Auxiliary will be there with ice cream and assorted slices of pie for sale. For those who don’t like fish, hamburgers and corndogs will be available as an alternative.
The final “Fridays After 5” event of the season takes place this Friday, September 18th at the Grove in Bourbonnais. Enjoy delicious food, cold drinks and live entertainment under the stars. Food trucks open at 5pm including Bennett-Curtis Catering, Candy & Cake, Cousins Maine Lobster, Minnie Food Truck, Freaky Fries and Kona Ice. The “Blooze Brothers” (a Blues Brothers tribute band) starts at 6pm. Free admission.
The 58th annual Francesville Fall Festival will be taking place on Friday September 18th, Saturday September 19th and Sunday September 20th in Francesville, Indiana. Admission is free and so is the popcorn. Enjoy fun for the whole family with carnival rides and games, an arts, crafts and flea market, entrepreneurs, a food extravaganza, music on the streets, the Veterans Wall, a fish fry, parade, car show and much more. Get all the information at “Francesville Fall Festival (dot) com”.
It’s time again for the annual Troutdog Outdoor Family Adventure Camp. Mike Tomano and his family will host this free family event at the South Wilmington Sportsman’s Club in Essex on Saturday, September 19th. Starting at 9am, this will be a day of expert archery instruction, fishing, canoeing and BB gun fun with a purpose of getting future generations hooked on the great outdoors. A light breakfast and lunch are included. Spaces are limited and registration is due by Friday September 11th. To sign up for this free event, please send your name, phone number, number of attendees and ages to “Troutdog Camp (at) gmail (dot com)”
The Alzheimer’s Association’s annual “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” for Kankakee and Iroquois County will take place Saturday, September 19th at the Square on Second in downtown Manteno. It’s the world’s largest fundraiser to fight the disease. Get more info and register today at “ACT (dot) ALZ (dot) org (slash) Kankakee”.
The Bradley Lions Club will be hosting an all-you-cat-eat breakfast on Saturday, September 19th inside the Bradley Community Center at 428 West Broadway Street from 7:30 until 11am. They’ll have pancakes and sausage with biscuits & gravy along with breakfast beverages. The cost is $8 per person but kids 5 and under can eat for free. Funds raised at this month’s breakfast will support Manteno’s Vintage Purse Museum in its mission to create meaningful employment, job opportunities and job training for adults with disabilities. Starlight Dance Studio will also be on site selling baked goods. To have 5 or more breakfast orders delivered to you locally, please call (815) 932-9180. There is no delivery fee.
The Northern Illinois Anglers Association (NIAA) will host its 43rd annual Kankakee and Iroquois River Cleanup from 8am until 1pm on Saturday, September 19th. Sponsored in part by this radio station, volunteers are needed that day to help keep our rivers healthy, clean and beautiful. All supplies will be provided and every volunteer receives refreshments and a commemorative patch. Visit “River Cleanup (dot) net” to register.
Illinois-based “Warriors Walk” is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing together a network of VFWs, American Legions, businesses, schools and community members to combat veteran suicide. Join the fight on Saturday, September 19th by participating in their 7th annual “Warriors Walk Ruck” to raise suicide awareness. This will take place at New Lenox Village Commons on Veterans Parkway in New Lenox with registration opening at 8am in front of the Village Hall. You can choose to walk 1 to 20 miles; the distance is up to you and the event is free. A post-ruck afterparty will be held with a live band, vendors, beer and the Joey’s Red Hots food truck. Funds raised will go toward veteran suicide prevention, mental health initiatives and veteran well-being through the Headstrong Project. For more, visit: “Warriors Walk (dash) IL (dot) org”.
CIRKA calls it “the best last Saturday of Summer”. Their 6th annual “Kankakee Estival Festival” will take place this Saturday, September 19th and it will feature musical acts of all genres, local artists, and delicious fare from area restaurants, bars and food trucks. Originally scheduled to be held at Bird Park, the festival has been moved this year to the Bill Sprigg’s Civic Auditorium located on the grounds of Governor Small Memorial Park at 803 South 8th Avenue in Kankakee. The venue change was decided due to this Saturday’s rainy weather forecast. This all-ages and free event showcases local talent and it is orchestrated by the “Collaborative Initiative to Revive Kankakee Arts”. You can find more information on the festival facebook page or at “K3 Est Fest (dot) com“.
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.
Enjoy a “Slice of Summer Fun” this Saturday, September 19th with a 9-hole Wiffle Golf tournament at the Bradley-Bourbonnais Sportsmen’s Club. It’s limited to 108 golfers with 3 shotgun starts at 12:30pm, 2pm and 3:30pm. There will be a playoff round and award ceremony at 5pm. The event also includes cash prizes, live music, food, gun and basket raffles, vendors, horseshoes, bean bags, a classic car and motorcycle meet, and 50/50 ball drop. Tickets are on sale now at the Sportsmen’s Club for $40 per golfer. This includes golf, lunch and two drink tickets.
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”.
The Bourbonnais Township Park District and Community Arts Council of Kankakee County will be hosting their annual Fall Stroll and Scarecrow Festival this Sunday, September 20th from 11am to 4pm at Perry Farm Park. This family-friendly event is free to attend and will include artists, crafters and makers with over 40 vendor booths to browse, a kids’ zone, live entertainment, food trucks and scarecrows. These scarecrows will be mounted along the fence and they were created by local businesses, organizations, families and groups. You can vote for your favorite one!
The Saint Anne Truck and Tractor Pull will be happening this Sunday, September 20th right off the main festival stretch along Station Street in downtown Saint Anne with an 11am start time. There will be Illiana Pullers Association Classes, Local Classes and an Open Diesel Truck payout of $500 for first place. Food and beverages will be provided by the Kankakee Knights of Columbus. A meat raffle will also take place during this day of power, dirt and family fun.
Kankakee Community College will host a College and Transfer Fair on Tuesday, September 22nd from 6pm until 7:30 in the College Center, inside the main entrance. More than 50 public and private colleges and universities will be in attendance to share information with prospective students and their families. You can stop by KCC’s booth to explore local degree, certificate, and transfer options or receive information on the financial aid process. Learn more at “KCC (dot) EDU”.
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.
The Salvation Army Kankakee will host its annual Housing Community Resource Fair on Thursday, September 24th from 1 to 6pm inside their 360 Life Center at 148 North Harrison Avenue in Kankakee. Community Health Partnership of Illinois will be bringing their mobile unit to provide school and sports physicals, health screenings, immunizations and other medical services to anyone who signs up by September 18th. Many other agencies and businesses are planning to be in attendance. More details available on facebook at “The Salvation Army Kankakee”.
The United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties will host its annual Celebration and Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 24th from 5 to 7:30pm at Deer Ridge Barn in Kankakee. Attendees will enjoy a relaxed evening in a beautiful atmosphere with live music, a buffet-style dinner, cash bar, special recognition, and stories highlighting the impact made possible by United Way’s donors, partners and volunteers. Ticket info available at “My United Way (dot) org (slash) Annual Celebration”.
The National Alopecia Areata Foundation will host its 4th annual “Walk for Alopecia” at Kankakee’s River Road Park on Saturday, September 26th. The signature finale event of Alopecia Areata Awareness Month, it’s the largest awareness and fundraising campaign dedicated to this autoimmune disease which affects nearly seven million Americans. Visit “NAAF (dot) org (slash) walk” for more information and to register.
The Papineau Fire Protection District will host a breakfast fundraiser on Sunday, September 27th at the Papineau Fire Station from 7am until noon. They’ll be serving pancakes and sausage with biscuits & gravy. It’s $10 per adult or $8 per child. Kids 5 and under eat free. Proceeds will go to support their training program and equipment upgrades.
OCTOBER
BLOOD DRIVES: The American Red Cross is 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 Thursday, October 1st from noon to 6pm at Northfield Square Mall / and Saturday, October 3rd from 7 to 11am at the Saint Anne High School. Locate an upcoming blood drive near you at “Red Cross Blood (dot) org”.
The Salvation Army of Kankakee’s annual Toy Shop sign-up period is active through October 31st. Kankakee County residents needing assistance in providing gifts for their children this Christmas can sign up now at “SA Angel Tree (dot) org”. Spots are limited.
To honor their sacrifice and remember their service, Kankakee County States Attorney Jim Rowe will be hosting a Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony on Friday, October 2nd at 11am on the Kankakee County Courthouse front lawn. This service will be open to the public.
All are welcome to attend New Jackson Tabernacle Cogic in Kankakee for the 45th Pastoral Anniversary as they honor Pastor TL Wright and celebrate 45 years of faithfulness, leadership and service. Join speaker Pastor Marcel Fears on Friday, October 2nd at 7:30pm. Visit again on Sunday, October 4th to hear from Assistant Pastor Carl Wright at 11am and later that evening from Pastor Naamon Williams at 5pm. This takes place at 668 East Mulberry Street in Kankakee.
The Villas at Herscher will host a Scarecrow Fest and Trunk or Treat with a craft show, petting zoo, food trucks and live entertainment on Saturday, October 10th. Interested vendors can register a booth by calling Natalie at (815) 426-2000. This is an assisted living community located at 100 Harvest View Lane in Herscher.