Palos Park Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters was happy to greet attendees as they entered the Village's Autumn in the Park festival on Friday, September 15, and Saturday, September 16. (Photos by Kelly White)
Palos Park celebrates fall with annual festival
By Kelly White
Palos Park is ready to celebrate the changing leaves, chillier weather and start of autumn.
The village welcomed the season in just a little early with its annual Autumn in the Park festival on Friday, September 15, and Saturday, September 16, on the Village Green at 8901 W. 123rd Street.
“This is my favorite fest,” Palos Park Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters said. “I remember taking my own kids here and to this very Village Green Park when they were younger.”
Debbie and Brian Muldowney, of Palos Park, at the Village of Palos Park’s Autumn in the Park festival on Friday night.
Kicking off Friday night were food, beer, wine and spirit vendors along with live music from the popular cover band, Hairbangers Ball. Food vendors included: Aurelio’s Pizza, Robinson’s Ribs, Frangella’s, Boba Heaven, The Original Shrimp House, Zacarelli’s Pizza, and delicious desserts from Doughs Guys Bakery and Plush Horse.
Also offering treats and information about their local organizations were the Lions Club and the Palos Park Woman’s Club.
Saturday, known as Family Day, began with a parade right in the heart of the Palos Park community that showcased bands, floats, civic groups, fire and police vehicles, horses, dogs, walkers, bicycle riders and community members for this wonderful tradition. The parade stepped off at 82nd Avenue on 123rd Street in Palos Park and traveled westbound to 90th Avenue ending near the festival grounds.
“The parade is always a great time,” Allie White, of Palos Hills, said. “We try to be here every year.”
However, the fun did not stop when the parade ended. The daytime fest included a petting zoo, Amazing Bob the Magician, bounce houses, artisans, and kids’ activities and crafts. Kids were also able to enjoy the new playground on the Village Green and participate in stretching activities with Do Good Movement Youth Yoga.
For the adults on Saturday, there were community performances from House of Music and T-USA Martial Arts, a fencing demonstration by Zoya Zackavec, an adult bean bag tournament and several food, beer, wine and spirit vendors available.
College football games were shown on the big screen in the Gazebo Sports Cave and Saturday’s musical lineup included Five Guys Named Moe and the well-known Mike & Joe Band.
Community sponsors for the two-day festival included: Xfinity, KTJ – Klein Thorpe & Jenkins Ltd., Beary Landscaping, Tri-State Disposal, Baxter & Woodman, Core and Main, Flow Technics Inc., HR Green, Nicor Gas, Palos Community Church, the Palos Park Woman’s Club and The Weglarz Family.
Hairbangers Ball rocked the stage at the Village of Palos Park’s Autumn in the Park on Friday night.
1 Comment
Local News
Titanic memories haunt Worth Library
Spread the loveBy Kelly White This year marks the 112th anniversary of the Titanic’s fateful ship crossing. Bringing the ship back to life was the Worth Public Library on April 15 with a program called, The Haunted Titanic, with local historian Bob Trzeciak, who walked patrons through the history, the lasting impact, and why it…
Spring cleanup day in Bridgeview set for Saturday
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Any Bridgeview resident with clutter to clear will be busy Friday night, May 10. That’s when they will be putting all kinds of things on the parkway as the village prepares for its annual spring cleanup day set for Saturday, May 11. All items must be at the curb by…
Family of man killed in McCook struggling with his absence
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch On what would have been his 37th birthday, the family of Morales Ricardo Lopez gathered at his grave in Evergreen Park Cemetery. Lopez, of Blue Island, was gunned down in McCook early Feb. 17, leaving behind a widow and three children. His family, other relatives and friends gathered at his…
Southwest Symphony presents ‘American Song Book’
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Southwest Symphony Orchestra will perform “The American Song Book” this weekend at Trinity College in Palos Heights. The performance will feature Grammy nominated Helen Welch under the direction of David Crane at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Auditorium. Welch will perform some of America’s best loved classics.…
Shoppers welcome back Evergreen Park Farmers Market
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Rain was forecast for the morning of May 2, but nothing could dampen the spirits of customers who dropped by the Evergreen Park Farmers Market. The large crowd that attended were instead greeted with mostly sunny skies. Beth Novotney, director of the Evergreen Park Office of Citizen Services that oversees…
Evergreen Park recognizes police for valor
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle The Evergreen Park police have been cited for valor after several key arrests that occurred the past couple of months. Police Chief Michael Saunders requested commendations for the officers during the Evergreen Park Village Board meeting Monday night. Mayor Kelly Burke and the board applauded the efforts of the force.…
Hickory Hills police bid adieu and say welcome
Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam The Hickory Hills Police Department bid a fond farewell to Lieutenant Glenn Tienstra and welcomed new Officer Daniel Balzhiser. On a memorable Thursday evening, April 25, city hall was filled with the warmth of community family, friends, officers, and council members, all gathered to joyfully celebrate Officer Balzhiser and respectfully…
Obituaries May 9, 2024
Spread the loveDOLORES DESPARROIS Dolores Desparrois (nee Raudis), age 87, of Chicago, Garfield Ridge community, passed away peacefully April 25. Beloved wife of the late Robert W. Desparrois; loving mother of Robert (late Julie) Desparrois, Joseph (Rose), Raymond (Kim), and Kenneth; grandmother to 12 children Nicholas, Bobby, Nicole, Johnny, Amanda, Becky, Christine, Sharon, Jennifer, Wendy,…
Mother Mac unveils new lights and scoreboard
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Across the nation, women’s sports are on the rise in terms of viewership, enthusiasm, sponsorship and excitement. Mother McAuley is no stranger to the impact that women’s athletics has on the development of an individual, strengthening of a team and key skills and attributes developed along the way. South Side…
Sign changes cause controversy in Orland Park
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Despite a controversy about signage, the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall, the William R. Vogel Civic Center and the Franklin Loebe Recreation Center will continue to be named after those three historic Orland Park men. “Nothing has changed,” Mayor Keith Pekau said after the May 6 meeting. But a recent…
Neighbors
Stateville may close as early as September under Pritzker’s prison plan
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Stateville Correctional Center could close as early as September under a plan laid out by Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration on Friday. Top officials with the Illinois Department of Corrections testified in front of a key panel of state lawmakers. The 12 members on the General Assembly’s…
Labor-backed bill banning ‘captive audience’ meetings awaits House action
By ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With two weeks left before the General Assembly’s spring session is set to adjourn, negotiations continue on a labor union-backed initiative that would allow Illinoisans to skip religious and political work meetings without reprimand. Dubbed the “Worker Freedom of Speech Act,” Senate Bill 3649 advanced out…
House gives OK to new state agency focused on early childhood programs
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House gave final passage Thursday to a bill establishing a new cabinet-level state agency whose mission will be to provide a kind of one-stop shop for services focusing on early childhood development and education. By the time it’s fully operational in 2026, the new…
ANALYSIS: ‘Significant enough’ opposition to Pritzker’s revenue plan leads to call for cuts
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com When Gov. JB Pritzker proposed his budget for the upcoming fiscal year in February, he sought authority from lawmakers to raise more than $1 billion in revenue through various changes to the state tax code. Among other things, he sought to raise $526 million through extending an expiring…
State officials offer last goodbye to former Thompson Center as renovations begin
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State officials kicked off the private renovation of the building which once served as the state government’s Chicago headquarters. The James R. Thompson Center, as it was known under state ownership, was sold in 2022 to a development firm that is renovating the building for its…
Public officials seek greater oversight of prescription drug middlemen
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com As state lawmakers hold hearings targeting the role of pharmacy benefit managers – an influential arm in how the health insurance industry prices prescription drugs – multiple state agencies are considering how to better regulate the industry. Often referred to as pharmaceutical “middlemen,” PBMs act as third-party intermediaries…
Thousands of youths at risk of losing access to after-school programs
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Advocates for community-based after-school programs say as many as 40,000 youths statewide could lose access to tutoring services, recreation and other extracurricular activities this summer unless Illinois lawmakers approve an infusion of funds to keep them going. “The time is now for legislators to act to…
Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse was rampant in state-run juvenile detention centers
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Rampant sexual abuse occurred unchecked for decades at Illinois’ juvenile detention centers, a new lawsuit filed on behalf of 95 former detainees alleges, citing hundreds of incidents over more than two decades. The plaintiffs were boys between 12 and 17 years old when the alleged abuse occurred and…
House GOP advances 2 human trafficking victim protection bills as others remain in limbo
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com After Illinois received another failing grade from a national advocacy group, state House Republicans have introduced legislation aimed at further protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators of human trafficking. Shared Hope International, an advocacy organization that works to prevent sex trafficking, said in its 2023 Illinois report card that…
Remembering Lee Milner
NEWS TEAM Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com On Wednesday, April 17, the Springfield, Illinois Capitol and journalism communities lost a devoted friend and advocate when Lee Milner passed away. As Dean Olsen wrote in his piece in the Illinois Times earlier this month, “Readers of Illinois Times often have seen Milner’s work as a freelance photojournalist. But…
[…] Story continues […]