Upcoming Events Colorful Blocks Text

National Talent Fills Annual Festival’s Main Stage June 10-11

Thirty-third annual festival set for June 10 – 11 at Goold Park. Beautiful Goold Park, 308 Northern Avenue, Morris, again will be the location for this year’s Gebhard Woods Dulcimer and Traditional Music Festival. Hosted by Hammers and Noters Dulcimer Society (HANDS) of Illinois on June 10 – 11, the festival will feature hourly performances…

–Photo submitted.

BTPD Family Night Out June 2

The Bourbonnais Township Park District invites the entire family to begin the summer at Perry Farm Park. Family Night Out is Friday, June 2, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Perry Farm Park. Gates open at 6 p.m., with the Grand Opening of the Ninja Obstacle Challenge Course for ages 13 and up. There will…

Melanie Holmes poses in front of the B. Harley Bradley House, 701 E. Harrison Drive, Kankakee. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, this home is mentioned in the new Illinois bucket list book. –Photo submitted.

Manteno Native Releases New Illinois Bucket List Book

When Melanie Holmes learned about Reedy Press’ nationwide line of bucket list books and saw there wasn’t one for Illinois, she knew she wanted to write it. As a lifelong Illinoisan and travel enthusiast who has been traveling the state since age seven, according to Holmes, she’s seen a lot. And still, she found much…

–Poster submitted.

It’s Time for Rhubarb; 33rd Annual Rhubarb Festival May 21

The Kankakee County Museum, at Small Memorial Park, 801 S. Eighth Avenue, will host its 33rd annual Rhubarb Festival on Sunday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s festivities include a wide variety of vendors, dime toss, kid’s zone, classic and old car display, pie-eating contest, live entertainment, and tours of the…

–Photo submitted.

Mother’s Day Basket Bingo May 13

Fight Club Survivor’s Mother’s Day Basket Bingo is coming up on Saturday, May 13, from 6 – 10 p.m., at the Grant Park Community Center, 209 W. Dixie Highway in Grant Park. Doors open at 5 p.m., with Bingo beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person. The fun, family-friendly, fundraiser also features vendors,…

–Photo submitted.

‘Wartime Memories: Some to Remember, Many to Forget’

On Saturday, May 13, at 12:30 p.m., historian and Kankakee County Museum Volunteer Max Michaels will give a presentation at the French Heritage Museum, 165 N. Indiana in Kankakee, entitled, “Wartime Memories: Some to Remember, Many to Forget.” This presentation will provide an account of World War II from the perspective of Max’s family and…

Enjoy a delightful Midwestern farm dining experience at Locavore Farm in Grant Park. –Photo submitted.

Unique Experience: Locavore’s Farm Dinners, Open-Air Markets, Walking Tours

Locavore Farm announces year eight of farm experiences and a second season at its new space, a 35-acre agrarian resort and biodynamic working-farm, where guests can eat, drink, shop, and experience live entertainment and unique learning opportunities, in rural Grant Park. The farm also offers overnight experiences in their farmhouse or glamp site. The farm…

image001

Something New is Rolling into Kankakee County!

Visit Kankakee County, who locals know as the Kankakee County Convention and Visitors Bureau (KCCVB), has been busy keeping up with all things new and ever changing in Kankakee County, and Wednesday, April 12, was the official release of their most recent marketing publication, the holy grail of tourism tips for Kankakee County: The Visitors…

–Photo submitted.

Fight Club Survivor Mother’s Day Basket Bingo!

Mark your calendars for the very popular Fight Club Survivor’s Mother’s Day Basket Bingo on Saturday, May 13, from 6 – 10 p.m., at the Grant Park Community Center, 209 W. Dixie Highway in Grant Park. Doors open at 5 p.m., with Bingo beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person. The fun, family-friendly,…

Kankakee library

Kankakee Library News

Kankakee Public Library, 201 E. Merchant Street in Kankakee, announced some of its programs for the beginning of May. For additional information or to register, call the library at 815-939-4564, visit www.lions-online.org, or their Facebook page. Therapeutic Tai Chi at the Library: The library is excited to host a five-week beginner course of therapeutic Tai…

Jessica Michna portrays Laura Ingalls Wilder. –Photo submitted.

Michna to Present Program on Laura Ingalls Wilder

At 2 p.m., on Sunday, March 19, Jessica Michna will present a program on Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the “Little House” book series. The program will be held in the courtroom of the Old Courthouse Museum, 103 W. Cherry, Watseka, and is hosted by the Iroquois County Historical Society. Michna, who developed a love…

O’Donnell Touring with Illinois Wesleyan University

Gillian O’Donnell, of New Lenox, is a member of Illinois Wesleyan University’s Collegiate Choir, which will make several appearances in Illinois during the spring concert tour. O’Donnell, a junior vocal performance major at Illinois Wesleyan, is a graduate of Lincoln-Way West High School. The IWU Collegiate choir tour local itinerary includes a concert on March…

The Knowledge Exchange, March 9

The Potpourri Lecture Series through the Park Forest Library offers stimulating and thought provoking, as well as entertaining, programming and is co-organized by participants of The Knowledge Exchange (TKE) and often includes guest lecturers and presenters from TKE and Governors State University. This Thursday, March 9, at 10:30 a.m., TKE will present “What’s Old is…

Ryan Barry shows just how talented and versatile he can be. –Photo submitted.

Trinity Rock Star Wins Best in Show at Lowe’s National Competition

Ten years ago, Ryan Barry, a talented middle school track and cross-country runner, taught himself to play the guitar. “I never took guitar lessons,” said Barry. “I watched YouTube videos and learned to play by ear.” Immediately, Ryan fell in love with the genre of rock music known as heavy metal, sounds that are intense,…

–Photo submitted.

Clove Alliance Hosting GLO BINGO

Clove Alliance organizers are expecting a sell-out crowd at GLO BINGO on Thursday, March 23, at the Kankakee Fairgrounds Expo Center. This is not your grandma’s bingo, but it is a special 18 years and older night of high energy, loud music, black lights, and tons of fun! Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with bingo…

The Knowledge Exchange Potpourri Lecture Series

The Potpourri Lecture Series, through the Park Forest Library, offers stimulating and thought provoking as well as entertaining programming and is co-organized by participants of The Knowledge Exchange (TKE) and often includes guest lecturers and presenters from TKE and Governors State University. This Thursday, March 2, at 10:30 a.m., The Knowledge Exchange will feature “Tony…

Upcoming events

Upcoming Events: ‘Laugh for a Cause’

Get tickets now for “Laugh for a Cause,” an Adopt-a-Soldier fundraiser on February 25, beginning with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m., and the show at 7:30 p.m., at Bradley American Legion Post 766, 835 W. Broadway, in Bradley. Tickets are $30 and available at Bradley American Legion or online at adoptasoldier.org.

Vedette logo
Monee Budget Book Seeks to Make Finances Easier to Understand
Jeremiah Truhlar loves to compete. –Photo submitted.
Former Manhattan Resident Turned Multi-Discipline Professional Combat Sports Athlete
100th Illinois Infantry Company K Reenactors performed at Union Cemetery on Memorial Day. –Courtesy of the 100th Illinois Infantry Company K Reenactors.
Memorial Day Ceremony Held at Historic Union Cemetery
Vedette logo
Monee Get a Grocery Store Someday? Maybe
Bobcats take runner up and had a fantastic season. Photo by Jim Piacentini.
Beecher End Season With Loss to Rockets
Dixie Barclay poses with one of her favorite gifts from the Manhattan-Peotone Fire Buddies. –Photo by Melissa Eaheart.
Dixie Gets a Visit from Project Fire Buddies
Adopt a Soldier 22 Kilometer Ruck to combat miltary suicide left Kankakee Walmart proceeding down route 50, had a rest stop at Manteno American legion and concluded at Peotone Fairgrounds on May 28th. Photo by Dan Gerber.
Ruck March 2023 Seeks to Combat Military Suicide
American flag with a canvas and paint texture
Army Strong Got One Man Stronger
manteno american legion post 755
Manteno Legion Memorial Day
Boy Scouts Logo
Manteno Boy Scouts
Beecher Bobcats logo
Bobcats Punched their ticket to State
Krueger speaks at the Peotone Legion Post 392 Memorial Day ceremony. –Photo by Andrea Arens.
Peotone Legion Memorial Day Program Honors Heroes
LaMore Realty wins award in 2023. Photo by Madeleine Willis.
LaMore Realty’s Impactful Service on the Manteno Community
Monee PD raised over $5,400 for Special Olympics on Cop on a Rooftop Day. Photo submitted.
Monee Cops Raised Dough Fulls on Rooftop
Bobcats punched their ticket to state. Photo by Jim Piacentini.
Bobcats Take the Pontiac Sectional
The back of the custom shirts three backyard chicken advocates wore to the March 27th board meeting. Photo by Andrea Arens.
Peotone Village Board Approves Backyard Chickens
Monee police officer Stephen Crescenti got support from his daughter Gabriella, 5, at the Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Photo by Karen Haave.
L.E.A.D. Meant to Bring Positivity
Vedette logo
Beecher Looking for Half a Mil
Congrats to the Manteno High School Class of 2023! Photo by Madeleine Willis.
Manteno High School Announces Graduating Class of 2023
Beecher Bobcats logo
Pontiac Indians No Match for the Bobcats