Need a plan for entertaining the family all Thanksgiving weekend? The days following Thanksgiving can be just as fun and eventful with these Oak Park and River Forest events.
Small Business Saturday encourages residents to shop locally through providing exclusive deals and fun activities. There are a number of businesses celebrating Small Business Saturday, including Ten Thousand Villages, Wells Street Popcorn, CarefulPeach Boutique and others.
Amelia Dellos, marketing director of the Downtown Oak Park Business Alliance stressed the importance of shopping small in Oak Park.
“ About 90% of our businesses here in downtown Oak Park are small businesses. They’re run by individual owners. For every dollar you spend at a small business, approximately 68 cents of that dollar stays within the community,” she said. “So, when you shop locally, you are supporting your community. You’re keeping it vibrant, you’re keeping it economically strong, and also you’re finding really fun, unique, one of a kind gifts, too. So, it’s a win win.”
Also on that Saturday, the Downtown Oak Park Business Alliance is sending out a cheer squad team to visit local businesses throughout the community.
After a busy week, treat yourself to a coffee tour and tasting at G&G Home. Swelter Coffee Roasters, a women-owned coffee brand featuring women-grown coffees, will be at G&G Home Saturday to offer a coffee tour of coffees from women producers around the world. Look forward to coffee from Mexico, India, Congo and other locations. The tours will be orchestrated at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 12:30 p.m., so there will be many chances to taste while exploring G&G Home’s curated offerings.
Get into the holiday spirit by attending A Charlie Brown Christmas Brunch Live. This event taking place at the Pleasant House will provide Vince Guaraldi’s, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” played live by The Chris White Trio, as well as a brunch buffet by Babygold Barbecue. There will be two performances, one at 10 a.m. and one at 12:30 p.m.
If you are looking for something to do with young kids, the Oak Park Library will be having a Young and Restless storytime event for children ages zero to 24 months. Designed to allow babies to roam and move, this story time will be paired with songs and rhymes.
While at the Oak Park Library, make sure to check out the idea box for Native American heritage month located in the main library. The idea box is a special display at the library that focuses on the stories of marginalized people.
Rock out with Classical Blast, a touring rock band from the Chicago area, as they meld classic rock music with Christmas tunes at their show “Dark Side of the Yule,” Sunday, Dec. 1. Listen as they mix Pink Floyd and Metallica with holiday classic carols.
Have a laugh with WBEZ and Las Locas Comedy at for the comedy show Mi Familia Loca: Home for the Holidays at Robert’s Westside. This monthly showcase highlights Latina and Latinx comedians who focus on cultural issues.