OCTOBER
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.
Through October 31st- The Menards store on Christine Drive in Bradley is serving as a drop site for a local food pantry until the end of October. A large collection box for your donations has been placed near the exit doors. Non-perishable food items like cereal and cans of soup can be purchased in Menards’ own grocery department for immediate donation.
The New Horizons Band will perform a Fall Concert in the Larsen Fine Arts Building at Olivet Nazarene University on Monday, October 26th. Conducted by Rod Williams and featuring guest soloist Gigi Kohl, this show begins at 7pm and it is free to attend.
Donate while you dine at the Culver’s on Route 45 in Bourbonnais on Wednesday, October 28th. The restaurant will donate 10% of all sales made between 5 and 8pm that evening to “Let’s Ketchup”. They are a local nonprofit group whose mission is to help local students “ketchup” by providing children with the resources they need both in and out of the classroom, from meals and clothing to hygiene products and more.
Bradley School District #61 will host its annual Community Stakeholder event on Thursday, October 29th from 9 to 10am at Bradley Central School on North Wabash Avenue. Attendees are asked to enter through door E2, which is their Michigan Avenue entrance. Here, you can talk with administrators, hear from students and see classrooms in action. Light refreshments will be served. Email “RSELK (at) Bradley Schools (dot) com” to register for this event.
The Manteno American Legion will host a Halloween Party on Saturday, October 31st from 7 to 11pm complete with a pot luck dinner, music and a costume contest. Milner Media’s Denny Case will DJ this party beginning at 8pm. All are welcome to attend and admission is free.
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 Olivet Nazarene University hockey team will honor veterans and military personnel at Ice Valley Center Ice Arena on River Road in Kankakee on Friday, November 6th at 7pm. This Military Appreciation Night will feature military-themed merchandise for sale, a display of military artifacts provided by the Kankakee County Museum, a silent auction, the “Portrait of a Soldier” exhibit and more. All veterans and military personnel enter free. Chick-fil-A will have a food truck on site.
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.
A Veterans Day weekend event will take place Saturday, November 7th from 10am to noon at the military monument site on the grounds of A.N. Webber Logistics on Route 45/52 in Kankakee. Hosted by the Ray Olley Memorial Project missions team (led by Jojo Sayson) and sponsored by Riverside Healthcare, this will feature inspirational guest speakers and moments of prayer, a flag ceremony, patriotic music, a wreath offering with bagpipers, taps and a 21-gun salute, Riverside health screenings, free Bibles and more. Milner Media’s Denny Case will be the emcee.
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.
The Ford Iroquois 4-H Foundation Auction will be held on Sunday, November 8th at Saint Paul’s School in Woodworth. There will be a pork burger and pork chop lunch at 1:30 followed by the auction at 2pm. Funds raised will go towards 4-H activities.
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 annual Veterans Day Military Warriors Run will be taking place in Manteno on the morning of Wednesday, November 11th. Veterans and military personnel will depart from Heritage Park at 8am sharp dressed in battle gear and carrying flags. They will run to all three schools and through downtown Manteno to instill some pride in our country to area youth. This group will be accompanied by several military organizations and vehicles, along with the Manteno Police Department. Veterans who wish to participate can contact Daniel Gerber at the Manteno American Legion or just show up at Heritage Park by 8am.
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.
Local nonprofit organization “Fight Club Survivor” will host a fall Mystery Bingo fundraiser in the Beecher Amvets Hall on Saturday, November 14th. Doors to the venue at 532 Gould Street will open at 4:30 and the bingo begins at 6pm. There will be raffles and vendors, special games, food and drinks available, even a split-the-pot drawing. Tickets are $20 each and will be available at the door. The fun wraps up around 10pm. This event celebrates breast cancer survivors and our military veterans.
Faith Baptist Church will host their “Trinkets and Treasures” Craft and Bake Sale on Friday, November 20th from 9am to 2pm and from 9am to noon on Saturday, November 21st. Entry is free to stop in and shop unique handmade crafts and delightful treats in the church gymnasium at 1280 Armour Road in Bourbonnais.
The Newton County 4-H Council and Building Committee will host a Christmas Craft Show inside the 4-H building at the Newton County Fairgrounds in Kentland, Indiana on Saturday, November 21st from 9am to 2pm. Find the perfect holiday gifts, decor and more. Breakfast and lunch will be served.
The Knights of Columbus on South Indiana Avenue in Kankakee will host an evening of entertainment on Saturday, November 21st with “Dueling Pianos” from 6 to 9pm. Doors open at 5:30 and tickets are $35 each. There will be a cash bar and you must be at least 21 to attend. Proceeds will go toward remodeling the Casey Club. Tickets are now available at the Knights of Columbus, or by calling (815) 932-2031.