This year’s Patriots Day Parade will take place on Thursday, June 25, 7 p.m. Sponsored by the Midway Chamber of Commerce, the parade travels down Archer Avenue, starting at Parkside and ending at Kennedy High School. This year’s Grand Marshal is none other than Geno Randazzo, of All Exterior Contractors. Come out and celebrate community and country in honor of our great nation’s 250th birthday!
Don’t forget to register your children for the Chicago Public Library’s annual Summer@Chicago reading and learning program. This eight-week program encourages school aged kids to continue learning over the summer and for little kids to experience the library and story times. All children through the age of 13 can participate and earn a summer reading t-shirt. Grand prize is a set of magnetic tiles. This year’s theme is “Chapters of Chicago” and runs from June 8 to August 2. Each location offers different programs and prizes.
Here is a list of some other fun things to do this summer with your kids in our neighborhood. All events are free!
Hale Park: Fiesta Mexicana, Friday, May 29, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mask making at 6 p.m.
Normandy Park: Disney’s Lilo & Stitch movie, Thursday, June 11, 8:45 p.m.
Wentworth Park by Kinzie Elementary School: Disney’s Zootopia 2 movie, Thursday, June 25, 8:45 p.m.
Hale Park: Changosnakedog rockstar puppet show and workshop, Thursday, July 23, 2 p.m.
Vittum Park: Circus in the Park, Thursday, August 20, 6 p.m.
Valley Forge: Circus Arts at the Park, Friday, September 11, 6 p.m.
Garfield Ridge Library News
The Garfield Ridge Library (located on Archer and Mulligan) continues to offer programs for kids, teens and adults all year long. Check out the library’s website for more information. www.chicagopubliclibrary.org.
Summer Reading Kick-Off Event Join us on Saturday, June 6, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to sign your kids up for our summer reading program. Each child will receive a guidebook to record their daily reading and activities to earn a SLC t-shirt. Happy Jacks will be here giving away FREE popcorn and cotton candy. The Midway Chamber of Commerce is donating water and snacks. Create a “Sweet Home Chicago” cardboard collage house to take home. Dabble at our art table, do some scratch art and more! Spin our prize wheel to win a small prize instantly! So, what are you waiting for? Mark your calendars and kick start your children’s summer with a visit to the library. Sign up continues all summer long not just on June 6.
Pick up a calendar or go online to see what fun kids programs we offer. Space is limited and registration is requested for each event.
Sesame Street Program: Saturday, June 13, 10 a.m. for children ages 18 months to 4 years. Join us for a Sesame Street themed story and craft. Enter a special raffle at the beginning of the program to win a Sesame Street gift basket!
Story Time Stars: Mondays, June 15-29, 10:30 a.m. Join us for our weekly summer story time with a take home craft. Listen to a Chicago-themed story and make a simple craft to take home. For children 18 months to 4 years. Whether it’s a story about pizza, a garbage truck, or the airport, kids will learn a little something about our city!
City Builders Activity Class: Wednesdays, June 10-24, 10:30 a.m. Do you like to build things? Then join us at the library every week as we build with preschool Legos, foam blocks, snap cubes, wooden planks, magnetic tiles and more. Each session begins with a story before building starts. For ages 2 to 4 years.
Itty Bitty Play Time: Mondays, June 15-29, 1 p.m. for babies ages 0-18 months. Join us for three sessions of summer play time designed for our littlest patrons. Meet other families and share tips on parenting.
Babbling Babies Thursdays, June 25, July 16 and July 23 at 10:30 a.m. for babies up to 12 months. Join us for baby story time this summer. Listen to a few short stories, learn bouncing songs and fingerplays. Register your little one to participate in our summer reading program. Complete a Baby Log and earn a free book.
Senior Ice Cream Soda Day: Saturday, June 20, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Listen to live music with local musicians and friends of the library, Bud & Marge and enjoy some ice cream! While supplies last. For adults 50 and older. Stay afterwards to play cards or a board game.
Clearing Public Library Programs
(Located at 6423 W 63rd Place. 312-747-5657)
Summer Story Time is on Thursdays at two different times: attend either the 11 a.m. session or the 12 p.m. session. Dates are as follows: June 4, 11, 25 and July 2, 9, 16 and 30. Join us for story time especially for our littlest patrons! We share songs, rhymes and books, plus suggestions for at-home activities. For kids 0 to 5 and their caregivers.
100th Anniversary Celebration: Midway Airport: Saturday, June 6, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Established in 1926, Chicago’s Midway Airport served as Chicago’s first Airport. Learn the interesting history of the airport from the experts from the Midway Historians and the Clear-Ridge Historical Society. Browse the extensive photo and document collections and hear short talks about different aspects of Midway’s history.
Suminagashi: Japanese Paper Marbling: Tuesday, June 16, 4 p.m. Come to the library and create one of a kind works of art utilizing Suminagashi, the Japanese art of ink floating on water. This art utilizes ink, brushes and water to create unique patterns on paper. Come to the library and experience this ancient and meditative art form. For teens and tweens 10 to 19.
Live Animals with JG’s Reptile Show: Wednesday, June 17, 1 p.m. Join us for an educational, hands-on and very exciting experience with live reptiles from around the world. The show will include an amazing assortment of reptiles to interact with and learn about. For kids 3 and up.
The Great Chicago Portage: Wednesday, June 17, 6 p.m. Join Brian and Joyce Ostberg, creators of the BeHistoric YouTube Channel, to share a viewing of their documentary, “The Great Chicago Portage”, a video which describes the geologic origins and historical importance of the Chicago Portage, and the role of indigenous people, the French, the English, and Americans in its use and development, and how it has transformed to the present day. The viewing will be followed with a Q&A and discussion regarding their research, their methods of making the documentary, and how it relates to other projects that they have in production.
Community Events
Midway Chamber of Commerce’s “Garfield Ridge Farmer’s Market” 2026 Season: May 2 to September 26, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Located outside at the northwest corner of Archer Avenue & Narragansett/Biz Hub (6422 W. Archer Ave). Come check them out!
Archer Avenue Car Show: Friday, June 5, 6 p.m to 10 p.m. (hosted by the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch). This is an annual event that features over a hundred vintage cars, sports cars and everything in between. Families can talk to the owners of the cars and take pictures. There will be food trucks and community representatives as well as music, good food and great neighbors. Archer was closed last year from Normandy to Narragansett so families could walk in the street.
Summer Nite Pop: An outdoor pop-up hosted by the Midway Chamber of Commerce, on Friday, June 5, taking place alongside Archer Ave during one of the busiest nights of the summer. Join for a lively summer evening of shopping, food, and community vibes right on Archer Ave. Shop local along the way.
This is a separate event designed to give local vendors a space to connect with the large crowds out enjoying the evening.
The Garfield Ridge Senior Center, located on Archer and Laramie (5674-B South Archer Ave) is hosting a Cyber Safety Presentation on Monday, June 8, 10 a.m. Presented by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. Registration is required for those 55 and older. Please call 312-745-4255 or stop at the center. Ask for Julie.
RIP Dale Andrews
It is with a heavy heart that the Andrews family is announcing that Café 63, located at 6411 W 63rd Street, will be closing its doors permanently due to the untimely passing of its owner, Dale Andrews. The Andrew family would like to thank all of you for supporting their restaurant for all these years. “Whether we knew you by name, or by where you sat, or by what you ordered, each of you touched our hearts and became part of our Café 63 family.”
Dale’s dream when he started this adventure was to have homestyle cooking like he had growing up. His biscuits and gravy were their family’s Sunday breakfast with their own children. He loved his spam and eggs and bologna sandwiches. The Conway skillet was named after the county his dad grew up in as a kid in Arkansas. Dale chose this restaurant because of the neighborhood. He wanted it to be “a family neighborhood place” where people could come in and chat with their family and neighbors. The Andrews family celebrated 10 years in business last June. Dale lost his battle to pancreatic cancer on May 10, 2026. Please keep their family in your prayers as they navigate life without Dale. Rest in peace.
Until next time, keep being nice to one another and share a smile! Please continue submitting information to my email: ptyznik@gmail.com.