It’s beginning to look a lot like summer in Forest Park
For most people, Memorial Day usually signifies the beginning of summer. In Forest Park, summer officially begins with SummerFest.
It’s no surprise that Forest Park’s SummerFest draws upwards of 10,000 folks from around the Chicagoland area to Madison Street every year. As in past years, SummerFest 2011 features live music, a beer garden, two dining areas, local vendors, children’s activities and an old SummerFest favorite: The Mega-slide. There’s no entrance fee and drink tickets can be purchased at booths near the court stage, 7422 Madison parking lot, and circle stage at the north corner of Circle and Madison.
SummerFest runs from Friday, June 3, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. through Saturday, June 4, from noon to 10 p.m. For the complete 2011 SummerFest schedule, visit www.summerfestfp.com.
A Day in Our Village turns 38 this Sunday
Celebrating 38 years, A Day in Our Village can best be described as Oak Park’s annual family reunion. This Sunday, June 5 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Oak Park residents will flock to Scoville Park, at the corner of Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue, to catch up with anyone and anything in Oak Park. With more than 100 Oak Park entities setting up activities and information booths, this is a great opportunity to see what Oak Park is all about. Local restaurants will be selling food and live music in the park will have residents dancing barefoot throughout the day. For more information, email community@oakpark.us or call 708-358-5407.
As part of A Day in Our Village, Greenline Wheels is hosting a wacky parade on Sunday, June 5. Residents are encouraged to bring their eco-wacky transportation to Greenline Wheels, 105 S. Marion, at 11:30 a.m. At noon, the parade will roll out to Rehm Park, at Garfield and East Avenue, for more activities including old fashioned carnival games, music and refreshments. If you can’t make the parade, you can still enjoy all of the festivities at Rehm Park from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Derby Lite hosts ‘CupQuake’ contest to benefit OPRF food pantry
Bakers, from amateur home-cooks to pros, will be coming out of the woodwork this Saturday, June 4, as Derby Lite hosts a cupcake contest to benefit the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry. Bakers will offer their tasty creations for judgment in one of three categories: red velvet, specialty flavor, and vegan and/or gluten-free.
While the deadline has already passed to register as a baker or a judge, everyone is encouraged to come out to support the food pantry in presence as well as with a canned or dried food donation. The doors open at 7 p.m. at the ARC Building, 18 Chicago Ave. For more information, visit their website at http://tiny.cc/cupquake