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 / Saturday, October 3rd from 7 to 11am at the Saint Anne High School / Thursday, October 15th from 11am to 5pm at Northfield Square Mall / on Friday, October 16th from noon to 5pm at the Bourbonnais Fire Station / and Tuesday, October 20th from 8:30am to 2pm at Herscher High School. Key in your zip code at “Red Cross Blood (dot) org” to find a blood drive near you.
Through October 31st: 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”.
Through October 31st– The Chebanse Haunted House is open every Friday and Saturday throughout the month of October from 7 to 10pm, rain or shine. Admission is $10 per person and kids 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult. It’s cash only and they have an ATM on site. There is indoor waiting and concessions are available for purchase. This attraction is sponsored by the village and takes place inside the Chebanse Civic Center at 180 West First South Street.
The Village of Bourbonnais and KANCOMM invite your little ones to come trick-or-treat along the mini buildings, learn safety tips from local organizations and meet local first responders during their “Safety Town Spooktacular” on Wednesday, October 14th from 5:30 to 7:30pm near the playground at The Grove in Bourbonnais. Costumes encouraged. More information available at “Village of Bourbonnais (dot) com”.
The Kankakee Valley Park District will host a Senior Expo and Senior Market on Wednesday, October 14th from 9am until noon inside the KVPD RecCenter at 150 North Indiana Avenue in downtown Kankakee. Attendees can visit with community organizations, discover health and wellness resources, shop handmade goods from local senior artisans, enjoy refreshments, take advantage of community recycling services and enter for a chance to win door prizes. There will be guest speakers throughout the day as well. This event is free to attend.
The Friends of the Library will host a cash-only Fall Book Sale at the Peotone Public Library on Thursday October 15th from 3 to 7pm, Friday October 16th from 10am to 4pm, and Saturday October 17th from 10am to 2pm. The library is at 515 North First Street in Peotone. Visit “Peotone Library (dot) org” for additional information.
The GFWC-IL Woman’s Club of Kankakee will host “Dinner With the Old Bags” on Friday, October 16th at the Bill Spriggs Civic Auditorium on South Eighth Avenue in Kankakee. The evening will feature dinner, entertainment and a silent auction featuring previously loved purses, handbags and clutches looking for their next grand adventure. Profits will go toward college scholarships. Admission is a $50 donation and tickets can be purchased by calling (815) 592-3464.
The Bradley Lions Club will host another all-you-can-eat breakfast with biscuits and gravy, pancakes and sausage on Saturday, October 17th from 7:30 to 11am at the Bradley Community Center on West Broadway Street. The cost is $8 per person, but kids 5 and under can eat for free. Call (815) 932-9180 for local delivery of 5 orders or more. They do not charge a delivery fee. Proceeds from this breakfast will help make the holidays brighter for the individuals at Shapiro Developmental Center.
New Beginnings For Cats will host their annual “Black Cat Bash” at the Quality Inn and Suites in Bradley on Saturday, October 17th from 4:30 until 9pm. The evening will include a sit-down dinner, entertainment and games, a cash bar, both live and silent auctions, and a performance by comedian Jerry Pope. Tickets are $55 each, available by calling Kim at (815) 474-2782. All proceeds will go to care for the cats at the shelter. Milner Media’s Mike Ruble will serve as emcee for this event.
The Kankakee Rotary Club will host its annual “Halloween Downtown” event on Sunday, October 18th from 10am until 4pm at the Farmers Market Site and along South Schuyler Avenue. This family-friendly event features local businesses and non-profits running free-to-play games and activities, along with food and merchandise vendors, music and a Trunk-or-Treat set up around the fountain near the train depot at Harold and Jean Miner Festival Square in downtown Kankakee.
Saint Joseph’s Holy Name Society will host a Pork Chop Drive Thru on Sunday, October 18th from 10:30am to 1:30pm. You’ll receive a pork chop sandwich with chips and applesauce for $10. A bottle of water will cost an additional dollar. Enter from Grove Street in Bradley and follow the signs to the parking lot in back of the school at Saint Joseph Parish. Funds raised will go toward door repairs and installing automatic door closers at the church to help parishioners with mobility issues.
Concordia University in Chicago will be sending three ensembles to perform at Saint Paul’s Lutheran School on Sunday, October 18th. Beginning at 4:30pm, attendees are going to hear from the Kapelle Choir, Chamber Orchestra and Wind Symphony. A freewill offering will be collected to support continued performances throughout the United States. The community is invited to attend at 1780 Career Center Road in Bourbonnais. More info at “St Pauls Lutheran (dot) net”.
The Village of Bourbonnais will host “Witches Night Out” on Wednesday, October 21st from 6 to 9pm at The Grove. This free adults-only event will be a wickedly fun evening featuring street vendors, live music from Molly Adamson, delicious food, brews and boos, a costume contest and lots of Halloween fun. More info at “Village of Bourbonnais (dot) com”.
The Bradley American Legion Post 766 will host a Trunk-or-Treat on Thursday, October 22nd in the parking lot across from the legion on West Broadway Street in Bradley from 4:30 to 6:30pm. Dress the kids in costume and bring them by for an evening of treats, candy, community and lots of fun. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Harbor House will host their 8th annual Candlelight Vigil on Thursday, October 22nd at The Grove in Bourbonnais. The community is invited to gather in solidarity with survivors and remember those whose lives have been tragically lost to domestic violence. This is an outdoor event which begins at 6pm and guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs.
The Village of Bradley will be hosting its 4th annual West Broadway Trick-or-Treat and Bradley’s Trunk-or-Treat on Thursday, October 22nd from 4:30 to 6:30pm on West Broadway Street in Bradley.
The Bradley Lions Club will host a “Halloween Fun Night” that the whole family can enjoy on Thursday, October 22nd at the Bradley Community Center on West Broadway Street. Enjoy singing pumpkins along with free hot dogs, chips and drinks from 5pm until they’re gone.
Jorge Bonilla and his team with Bonilla Coaching will host their next “Live 2 Lead” leadership conference on Friday, October 23rd from 8:30am until 3:30pm at Kankakee Community College. There will be both virtual and in-person speakers. For details and registration, visit “Live 2 Lead Kankakee (dot) com”.
Calvary Lutheran Church will host its 27th annual Fish Fry fundraiser from 4 to 6pm on Friday, October 23rd at 120 East Hickory Street in Watseka. They will be offering drive-up service only and the dinner includes cod filets, baked beans, potato salad and cookies for a free-will donation. All proceeds will go to benefit their preschool.
The Iroquois Community Center will host its “Boo-Tique Bash” vendor and craft fair on Saturday, October 24th from 10am to 2pm at Dunning Park on Lincoln Avenue in Iroquois. Shop handcrafted home goods, books, spices, body care products and much more. Good will donations can be made in the pavilion.
The Manteno Sportsmen’s Club Women’s Auxiliary will host their 7th annual Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday, October 24th from 1 to 3pm. This will take place throughout the campgrounds which will be open to the public for this all-ages event featuring cotton candy, hot dogs, drinks, hayrides, photo ops and lots of free candy.
The Noble Dairy Queen location across from ONU in Bourbonnais will host a Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday, October 24th from 4 to 7pm. This family-friendly event with decorated trunks and free candy will take place in the back parking lot at DQ. Costumes are encouraged.
The “Main Street Trick-or-Treat” event returns to downtown Manteno on Saturday, October 24th at the Square on Second. Show up dressed in your favorite Halloween costume to visit local businesses and decorated trunks to play some games while snagging free candy and giveaways. New this year, make your way through the Haunted Maze, sponsored by the Manteno American Legion. The Rotary Club and Village of Manteno are co-hosting this event with the Manteno Chamber of Commerce.
Saint Mary’s Parish Hall on Saint Charles Street in Beaverville will be hosting a Haunted Carnival on Saturday, October 24th from 5 to 8pm. Costumes are encouraged for this event which will feature a haunted house, hayrides, games and food. Donations will be accepted.
The Bradley American Legion Post 766 is hosting a Sports Card Show on Sunday, October 25th from 11am to 4pm. Admission is a one-dollar donation at the door. The legion is at 835 West Broadway in Bradley.
The Christian Church of Manteno will host a Trunk-or-Treat with candy, games, treats and much more on Sunday, October 25th beginning at 4pm. The church is at 401 East Third Street in Manteno.
The Bourbonnais Township Park District will host its 13th annual Turkey Trot along the Perry Farm Park trails on Saturday, November 14th. This family-friendly Thanksgiving Tradition offers a 10K run, a 5K run or a 2-mile walk. Predict your finish time, and if you’re the closest, you’ll take home a turkey. Early Bird Registration is open until Sunday, October 25th to guarantee your race shirt. Race Day Registration will open at 7:30am.
A Halloween party will take place at the Wilmington VFW on Saturday, October 31st (Halloween night) and Mike Tomano’s band “The Baked Potatoes” will provide the live entertainment from 8pm until midnight. Cash prizes will be awarded for best costumes. Contest registration is from 8 to 9pm and the votes will be tallied at 10pm.
NOVEMBER
The annual Sons and Daughters of Italy Spaghetti Dinner will take place Sunday, November 1st from noon to 5pm at Tucci’s Italian Restaurant on Route 50 in Bourbonnais. This event benefits the Americo Vespucci Lodge 1722 in Kankakee County and the many local charities that it supports. Tickets are $15 per adult or $10 per child ages 5 to 12. Kids under 5 eat for free. Along with the spaghetti and sauce, each meal will include your choice of sausage or meatball, with salad, dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage. Carry outs will be available. You can purchase tickets at the door, or in advance by calling (815) 953-6670.
The Kankakee County Museum will host its 16th annual Artisan Faire on Saturday, November 7th from 9am until 3pm. Shop from several local vendors and artisans who will be on site selling their handmade jewelry, trinkets and accessories, crafts and other handmade items, homemade treats and baked goods, artwork, prints, creative creations and more. This family-friendly event will be at 801 South 8th Avenue in Kankakee.
Renville Cares will host “7th Heaven on the 7th”, an all-ages charity concert featuring Chicago-based rock band, “7th Heaven” along with Kanakee’s very own “The Silhouettes” performing Saturday, November 7th at the Quality Inn on Route 50 in Bradley. Doors open at 5pm and the concert begins at 6pm. General admission tickets are $20 each. VIP tables are also available for purchase. Money raised will be used to take local underprivileged and underserved kids Christmas shopping through the Turkey For Tots program. Oliver’s Bar & Grill will be open before the show for dining. Advance tickets can be purchased at the front desk of the Quality Inn or by calling (815) 933-0777. Attendees can watch for Milner Media’s own Bill Dyche on drums with The Silhouettes.
Clove Alliance will host their annual “Cosmic Bingo” event on Friday, November 13th at the Kankakee County Fairgrounds inside the Expo Center. Doors open at 5pm and bingo begins at 6:30pm. Individual tickets are $35 and include bingo cards, a glow hat and bingo dauber. Tables for parties of 6 can be reserved for $210. Ticket sales end at noon on Friday, November 9th through Ticketleap (dot) com. They will NOT be available at the door. Guests must be at least 18 to attend. The proceeds will help provide resources to survivors of sexual violence.
The Manteno Church of the Nazarene will host a Fall Craft and Vendor Fair on Saturday, November 14th from 9am to 3pm in the church at 698 Locust Street (Route 50) in Manteno. There will be crafts, gifts and treats. This event is being held to raise funds for their youth group.
The Bourbonnais Township Park District will host its 13th annual Turkey Trot along the Perry Farm Park trails on Saturday, November 14th. This family-friendly Thanksgiving Tradition offers a 10K run, a 5K run or a 2-mile walk. Predict your finish time, and if you’re the closest, you’ll take home a turkey. Early Bird Registration is open now until Sunday, October 25th to guarantee your race shirt. Race Day Registration will open at 7:30am.