If you’re like us, you probably spent a good majority of your July stuck inside, playing shelter to the elements while blasting the AC on full and lighting pumpkin candles to artificially recreate a pre-fall atmosphere in a full-on state of Summer shut-in syndrome…that is normal right?
Well, it’s time to bravely strap on your boat shoes and do one last attempt towards making 2019 the Best Summer Ever!
Festivals
To kick off August, it’s the 55th Annual Kankakee County Fair, starting today and running to August 4th. So if a good Sheep Show and a Monster Trucks get you all revved up, be sure to head out to the Fairgrounds.
August 3rd the Valpo Corn Roast Fest sponsored by the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club.
August 6th, the 36th Annual National Night Out is from 4 pm till dusk at Perry Farm. This year’s raffle is for the “Happy Camper Playhouse” a colorful, 50s style camper trailer fit for the kid who loves the outdoors. The Playhouse Raffle is a fundraiser to benefit Child Network; the Children’s Advocacy Center and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). You can read more about it here.
August 10th it’s the retro-inspired music fest, Sunshine Music Fest, at Uncle John’s Flea Market in Cedar Lake.
August 17th visit Aroma Park for Two Rivers Festival with Fireworks at the end of the evening.
Labor Day Weekend, two festivals compete for attention from August 30th to September 2nd as Frankfort Fall Festival takes place in Frankfort with the #1 volunteer-run arts and crafts festival in Illinois, while closer to home, Shoe Fest 2019 at Camp Shaw-waw-nas-see returns!
Car Shows!
August 3rd there’s not one but two car shows in Kankakee, and if you’re winning your day, you can hit up both of them! Start with the Car Show in the Country at Country Chevrolet in Herscher from 11-4 pm, then head out to Saturday Night – Cruis’n the Square at the Kankakee Depot from 6-8 pm with Custom Night presented by Montaya Customs. Then August 10th head out to Manteno for Heroes, Hogs & Hot Rods from noon to 11 pm for BBQ Competition, Car Show, Strongman Competition, Craft Beer, Crafts, Live Music and more with benefits from the evening going to the Prince Home, the homeless veterans’ shelter in Manteno.
Sports
Bears Camp ends August 10th, but that doesn’t mean the Sporting world exits Kankakee with it! With High School football right around the corner and kickoff weeks away, there has to be something to do! Check out the First Annual KVPD 5K Beer Fest August 3rd from 11-3pm at the River Road Softball Complex in Kankakee where you can run, walk or just reward yourself with beer! All funds from the evening go towards the reopening of Splash Valley Aquatic Park.
Speaking of beer, nothing pairs with it like the sweet sounds of baseball! Slammers Fest is August 10th with live performances by Everclear, Bowling For Soup, Alien Ant Farm and more! Originally taking place at the Joliet Slammers’ Dupage Medical Group Field in Joliet has been relocated to 350 Soundstage in Tinley Park and is now a FREE SHOW! For more info, visit 350 Brewing Company’s website.
A variety of cool shiz-nit!
A chance of chaos comes to Northfield Square Mall as the Arts Center of Kankakee County sponsors “Kankakee Cosplay Chaos! 2019” Learn more here.
Manteno prepares for two evening events on August 16th as the Second Street Market comes to town before Rockin’ on Main featuring Hey Jimmy, sponsored by the Manteno Chamber of Commerce.
Over 3,500 people attended the first annual Great Joliet Prison Break-In, so it’s back for year two! August 24th from 4-11 pm at the Old Joliet Prison, featuring the band The Ides of March. All proceeds from the event go towards the Joliet Area Historical Museum and their efforts to secure, stabilize and showcase the Old Joliet Prison.
Have you ever questioned the heritage behind Kankakee County? Join “Voices of the Past”, Cemetery Walk August 25th from 11-2 pm at Mound Grove Cemetery in Kankakee as actors in period costumes lead residents to the grave sites of influences of old in Kankakee to better understand the area.
One of Kankakee County’s oldest standing buildings is the beneficiary of the Voyageur Classic 5k Run/Walk on August 31st from 7 am-10 am at the Kankakee County Museum. Stone Barn celebrates the French involvement in the history of the Kankakee River Valley: the first explorers and missionaries, the coureurs de bois and fur traders, and the pioneer settlers from France, French Canada, and Belgium. To find out how you can get involved, click here.
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