Southland suggestions to celebrate Father’s Day 2012
June 13, 2012 3:12PM
Victoria Zielinski and Paul Barrosse make up the Vic & Paul Show, which will be at the Beverly Arts Center from June 15-17 and June 21-24.
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Updated: July 16, 2012 6:11AM
When it comes to making dads feel special, the Southland offers a number of ways to mark Father’s Day.
These suggestions should help people of all ages to celebrate the holiday.
Alsip
ALSIP’S FUN FEST 2012: Prairie Junior High ball fields and Aquatic Park, 119th Street and Kostner Avenue, Alsip, (708) 389-1003, alsipparks.org: From 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m. June 16, there will free swimming, bands, Alsip’s Got Talent with a $300 cash prize, children’s games, pool activities, fireworks, a disc jockey and more.
Diving competitions will be offered during safety breaks, and there will be water-themed games and activities in the grassy portion of Aquatic Park. Children must be supervised. Entry will be cut off when the capacity of the facility is met.
There also will be a chili cookoff, with all entries made on-site. Each cook will be given an 8-foot table for cooking and displays. The entry fee is $18, with a cooks meeting at 11 a.m. and the chili turn-in at 3 p.m. The winners will be announced at 4 p.m. Registration: (708) 389-1003. All proceeds from the chili event will benefit the American Cancer Society.
Chicago
FATHER’S DAY MYSTERIES: (773) 267-6400, mysteryltd.com: Murder in the Mansion Mystery will offer Father’s Day Party at 1 p.m. June 17. The event will feature brunch and a special gangster mystery for Dad. Reservations are limited and should be made via phone from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 15.
THE VIC & PAUL SHOW: Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St. (111th Street south on Western Avenue), Chicago, (773) 445-3838, beverlyartcenter.org: This sketch comedy revue with Victoria Zielinski and Paul Barrosse will take the stage at 8 p.m. June 15, 4 and 8 p.m. June 16, 3 p.m. June 17, 2 p.m. June 21, 8 p.m. June 22, 4 and 8 p.m. June 23 and 3 p.m. June 24. Tickets are $22.
Zielinski and Barrosse, founding members of Chicago’s Practical Theatre Company in the 1980s, will return to the Chicago stage after a 20-year intermission. Music and keyboard accompaniment will be by Steve Rashid.
Crete
FATHER’S DAY BUFFET & POP-UPS FOR POPS: Balmoral Park, 26435 S. Dixie Highway, Crete, (708) 672-1414, balmoralpark.com: Attendees can show Dad they care with a night at the races and a buffet on June 17. The menu will include barbecue ribs, fried chicken, seafood, mac and cheese, a salad bar, corn on the cob and more. Cost is $19.95. Reservations should be made by phone.
With Pop-Ups for Pops, which will take place from 6-9 p.m. throughout the entire facility, every time one makes a wager, he or she could win a Pop-Up good for prizes like merchandise, wager vouchers or a chance to sink a golf putt and win $1,000.
Frankfort
FRANKFORT’S CONCERTS ON THE GREEN: Breidert Green, White and Kansas streets, Frankfort, (815) 469-3356, frankfortchamber.com: The Frankfort Chamber of Commerce offers these free events from 6:30-8 p.m. Sundays. Attendees should bring blankets or lawn chairs.
The schedule will kick off with Peter Oprisko on June 17. In case of stormy weather, concerts will take place at the Frankfort Park District Founders Center, 140 Oak St.
Glenwood
GLENWOOD OAKS RIB & CHOP HOUSE: 106 N. Main St., Glenwood, (708) 758-4400, glenwoodoaks.com: The restaurant will be open from noon-6 p.m. June 17 for those who would like to celebrate Father’s Day with a meal out.
Homer Glen
HOMER COMMUNITY FESTIVAL: 151st Street and Creme Road, Homer Glen, (708) 301-0632, homerfest.com: From June 21-24, this large outdoor festival will feature carnival rides, a beer tent, live bands and fireworks.
Hours include 5-10 p.m. June 21 with Johnny Russler and the Beach Bums Band at 6 p.m.
The fest will continue from 5 p.m.-midnight June 22 with Full Circle Band at 5:30 p.m., Infinity at 8:30 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. (rain date is June 23)
Hours will be noon-midnight on June 23 with Joey Midnight and the Flesh Tones at 3 p.m., 80’s Enough at 6 p.m. and Slippery When Wet at 9:30 p.m.
The festival will wrap from noon-8 p.m. June 24 with the Walk-Ins at 1:30 p.m. and Rendition at 4:30 p.m.
Parking is free.
Homewood
HOMEWOOD CRUISE NIGHT: Homewood Chevrolet, 18300 Halsted St., Homewood, (708) 674-1598: Open to all pre-1980s cars and trucks, this event runs from 5-9 p.m. Fridays and includes free barbecue.
Lockport
OLD CANAL DAYS: Lockport, (815) 838-0549, oldcanaldays.com: The Lockport Chamber of Commerce will present this event, which will include Johnny Russler and the Beach Bum Band at 9 p.m. June 16.
The parade will kick off Old Canal Days on June 15. The fun will continue June 16-17 with a craft show, music, local food vendors, horse-drawn wagon tours along the Illinois and Michigan Canal, museum events, games, children’s carnival rides, the “Trade, Transportation, and Power to Connect” exhibit, and more.
Mokena
CHILDREN’S SAFETY EXPO 2012: Lincoln-Way East High School, 201 Colorado Ave., Frankfort, (630) 243-0800: Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) will cosponsor this free event with New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann, Frankfort Mayor Jim Holland and Mokena Mayor Joe Werner from 9 a.m.-noon June 16.
Oak Lawn
OAK LAWN FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIES: Oak Lawn Village Green, directly east of the Oak Lawn Municipal Center and north of the Oak Lawn Public Library, (708) 499-7837, oaklawn-il.gov (click on Special Events): The outdoor Friday night movie series, which features screenings at dusk, will include “The Adventures of Tin Tin” on June 15.
OPA FEST: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 10301 S. Kolmar Ave., Oak Lawn, (708) 636-5460, stnicholasil.org: Celebrate Father’s Day weekend with this Greek festival, which includes homemade Greek food, Greek pastries, music and fun. Hours are 5-10 p.m. June 15 (carnival only), 4-11 p.m. June 16 (carnival and festival) and 3-10 p.m. June 17 (carnival and festival).
The church’s biggest fundraiser, the event will feature a raffle with $14,000 in cash prizes and many chances to win. Limited tickets are sold for the grand raffle, with prizes of $10,000 for first, $2,000 for second, $1,000 for third, and $500 for fourth and fifth.
Admission is $2 or free for ages younger than 12. A portion of the proceeds will go to Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn.
THE OAK LAWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S SPRING INTO SUMMER: Along Museum Drive from the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, 5100 Museum Drive, running west toward the Oak Lawn Metra station, 9525 S. Tulley Ave., (708) 424-8300, oaklawnchamber.com: These June 15-17 events are sponsored in part by Hawk Ford and Marquette Bank. There will be free entertainment and children’s events. There also will be beer, wine and food for sale.
A “Roof Top” New Car Show Preview Night will take place from 7-10 p.m. June 15 on top of the commuter parking garage with live band Rail Road Gin, food and a beer garden.
On June 16, the sixth annual Pet Parade will begin with lineup at 9:30 a.m. at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School, 5345 W. 99th St., Oak Lawn, and ending at Museum Drive. Also, the New Car Show will take place all day on top of the Metra garage, and the Vendor Fair will take place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Museum Drive and the Metra station. Children’s activities will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Father’s Day fun is booked for noon-5 p.m. June 17 on Museum Drive and the Metra station with food and music cosponsored by Eva’s Bridals of Oak Lawn. The New Car Show will be from noon-5 p.m. on the top of the Metra garage. There also will be a 1:30 p.m. cake-eating contest and a 2 p.m. performance by the band Fort Awesome.
Proceeds from the event will go toward the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, the “We the People” exhibit and to put the finishing touches on the 9/11 First Responders Memorial at the Oak Lawn Metra station aka Oak Lawn Patriot Station.
Orland Park
PET-PALOOZA: Orland Township grounds, 14807 Ravinia Ave., Orland Park, (708) 403-4222, orlandtwp.org: Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady and the board will host this event from noon-3 p.m. June 16. Brookfield Zoo representatives will be on hand with various exotic reptiles and birds. Attendees also can get pictures and autographs with Chicago White Sox mascot Southpaw and other team mascots.
The event will include an inflatable bounce house, a pet parade, pony rides, a pet contest, games, demonstrations, a kids zone, a train ride, exhibitors and vendors, pet adoptions, the Ask a Vet booth, entertainment, food and more.
Admission is free, but a donation of a 1-pound to 5-pound bag of pet food or a cash donation is encouraged. The event will benefit the Orland Township Pet Pantry. Well-mannered, leashed and tagged pets are welcome at this event.
Suburbs
DRIVING THE DIXIE: drivingthedixie.com: Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 10 a.m. June 16. Coffee and doughnuts will be available at the departure point, which is the only stop where event passports will be issued. Destinations include the oldest operating business along Dixie Highway, Sears Roebuck homes, historic murals in two separate locations and a trip around a lake.
A’s R Us, the Chicago Southland Chapter of the Model A Ford Club of America and the towns of Blue Island, Posen, Markham, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Flossmoor, Chicago Heights, Steger, Crete, Beecher, Grant Park and Momence will present this event.
Designed like a scavenger hunt, participants follow individual instructions to points of interest within the Dixie Highway communities, where event passports will be validated. Also, several secret passport locations will offer the chance to earn bonus drawing tickets at the prize drawing in Momence.
“This is a ‘take your time, travel and explore at your leisure’ event,” officials said. “We would like everyone to get to know the historic Dixie Highway and the interesting places along the route.”
Lunch will be provided by the village of Steger between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for those with stamped passports. There also will be a 50-50 pot to keep things interesting. Registration is $20.
Brookfield
FATHER’S DAY BARBECUE: Brookfield Zoo: 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, (708) 688-8355, CZS.org/Events: Attendees can bring Dad for a fun-filled day at Brookfield Zoo and treat him to a mouthwatering all-you-can-eat barbecue on June 17.
The noon event will feature a tasty menu of baby back ribs, chicken, slow-roasted strip loin carved to order, corn on the cob and grilled vegetables, as well as a children’s buffet of macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, and pizza. There also will be homemade apple cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream.
The cost, which includes admission to the zoo, is $49 for adults and $35 for ages 3-11 (zoo members pay $39 and $29, respectively). Ages 2 and younger can eat for no cost. Seating is limited, and reservations are required.
What do you suggest?
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