Gaelic Park Irish Fest

Irish Fest brings together the best in Irish music from America, Canada and Europe. In addition to all of the music, there will be Irish sports, dancing, theater & story-telling, a petting zoo, Irish dogs and ponies, and Irish import stories. For the little people, there are magicians, puppets, jugglers, and clowns, and most importantly, unlimited carnival rides are included in the admission price in addition to free parking.

CITY: Oak Forest

Matteson Family Days

The Village of Matteson is proud to present the 29th Annual Matteson Family Days (formerly called Matteson Fest). The event will take place over a 2 day period on Friday, June 28th, 2013 (5pm – 10pm) & Saturday, June 29th, 2013 (12pm – 10pm). Matteson Family Days will be an extravaganza of music, food and entertainment for people of all ages. The event will provide the community with family entertainment, activities for children, appetizing food and much more.

CITY: Matteson

Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm

You'll experience hours of enjoyment including a relaxing tractor pulled hayrack ride, pumpkins of course, a completely animated haunted barn and a giggling animated fun barn, the famous action packed pig races (running 10x a day on the 1/2 hour), an adorable petting & feeding zoo, the giant crazy corn maizey and pony rides. Enjoy a variety of entertaining animation throughout the barnyard and farm.

CITY: Homer Glen

Kankakee County Fair

In addition to the time-honored livestock shows at the fair, there are games, contests, exciting live entertainment, a carnival, fair food and a demolition derby.

CITY: Kankakee

3rd Annual DownTown District MidSummer Madness

Visit participating Downtown businesses to qualify for fabulous raffle prizes. Free event! Food, fun & super goodie bags to first 100 attendees!

CITY: Park Forest

Kankakee Regatta

Experience power boat racing from both sides of the beautiful Kankakee River, then enjoy entertainment, food and festivities along its banks. Get an autograph at one of the meet and greets with the drivers, view the antique boats or sit back and enjoy the racing from the hospitality tent.

CITY: Kankakee

2013 Cemetary Walk

Kankakee history comes to life with the guided history walk through Mound Grove Cemetary. Actors will portray historical figures sharing their lives and times in Kankakee County. Tours are at 11 a.m and 2 p.m.

CITY: Kankakee

Fall Art Stroll

For one day each fall downtown Kankakee is transformed into a center for arts and entertainment. The Art Stroll brings together artisans from all over the Midwest, including painters, photographers, jewelry makers, potters, glass makers, and a variety of music and performance artists.

CITY: Kankakee

Chicago Bears Training Camp

Whether you're a hardcore football nut, or you just want to give the family a Bears experience they'll never forget, Bears training camp in Bourbonnais is the place to be! Every summer the Chicago Bears descend on Olivet Nazarene University for training camp, where fans can attend free family events and meet the players. Please visit the website for dates and times.

CITY: Bourbonnais

Bourbonnais Friendship Festival 2013

During the five days of fun, rides, games, shows, beer garden, parades, teen Idol, baby contest and more. You are bound to see astronauts, Martians, the Jetsons, Buzz Lightyear, Luke Skywalker and more as you orbit the festival grounds.

CITY: Bourbonnais

BBQ Fest on the River

A BBQ competition, vendors, beer tent, carnival, kids zone, car show, walk/run, and bean bag tourney. Kicking it off on Friday night Chicago 80’s tribute band Poison d Crue will perform on the Miller stage followed by 80’s rock icons Warrant and Great White who will perform on the Centrue Bank stage. Friday times are 6:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m. Saturday’s country day begins at 11:00 a.m. through 12:00 a.m. On this eventful country day we will see local crowd favorites E3PO and Jason Bertrand perform before giving way to The Makena Hartlin Band on the Miller stage. Country stars Emerson Drive and Jack Ingram take over the Centrue Bank stage at 8:00 p.m. Sunday Blue’s lovers will take in the sweet sounds of Larry McCray for only $5. Sunday hours run from 12:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. A full listing of activities are available at kvpd.com including the full music lineup, wing eating contest, 5k run+walk/2,013 yard dash, car, truck, & motorcycle show, carnival, police vs. fire tug-of-war, kids zone and of course the BBQ cook-off competition!

CITY: Kankakee

Thee Old Time Farm Show

Stroll down the rows of old tractors and equipment, visit the operating exhibits of old gas engines, steam engines, the sawmill, threshing and corn shelling. Ask the operators to explain their exhibits and learn about the agricultural equipment that is "Part of America's Heritage". On July 7 come and cheer on the second annual antique tractor pull after the Parade of Power.

CITY: Bradley

Strawberry Jazz Festival

This free event will feature more than 60 arts-and-crafts artisans displaying handmade items, a wide variety of food vendors and continuous entertainment. The festival has grown so large that it now utilizes the entire park. Guests may browse through displays around the grounds and in the Dr. A.L. Small Home, Civic Auditorium and Kankakee County Museum. They also may visit the Old Taylor School House and then stroll through both of the park’s beautiful gardens.

CITY: Kankakee

July 4th Concert and Fireworks

Kankakee Community College will host a pops concert and fireworks show in celebration of July 4th. The Kankakee Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra will perform at 5:30 p.m. followed by the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks will begin at dusk.

CITY: Kankakee

Kankakee River Fishing Derby

Join us for the Annual Kankakee River Valley Fishing Derby! The Kankakee is a clean river that is a popular destination for recreational canoeing and fishing for warm-water species such as smallmouth bass, channel catfish, walleye and northern pike. Our fishing derby is a ten-day event providing exciting fun for the whole family and cash prizes are awarded for tagged fish.

CITY: Kankakee

Merchant Street Music Festival

Merchant Street MusicFest brings together an eclectic range of music, artists, food and people to celebrate diversity throughout the community. Merchant Street MusicFest is a FREE two-day music and arts festival at the historic downtown train depot located at 199 S East Avenue in Kankakee, IL. The event is a community celebration featuring local, regional, and national musical talent on 3 stages, fine and folk art vendors and great food and drink. Tempt your tastebuds with our local food vendors' best offerings or just sit back with a cold one and let the melodic sounds wash over you.

CITY: Kankakee

Herscher Labor Day Celebration

Now in its 93rd year, express your patriotism at this three-day event that features a grand parade, sporting events, entertainment, live bands and down home cooking.

CITY: Herscher

Gallery of Trees

Throughout the Kankakee County Museum, Christmas trees are decorated by community organizations. Yearly, a special theme is added for your enjoyment. Come in and view the different arrangements and vote for that special tree.

CITY: Kankakee

Kidzfest

Kidzfest is held on the first Saturday of August from 10am until 3pm each year. The event includes many types of interactive, educational and fun activities sponsored by a variety of vendors, i.e. Lewis University Kids Campus, Joliet Park District, Rialto Square Theatre, the Library, the Forest Preserve District and numerous other vendors planning special activities for kids. Food and entertainment provided.

CITY: Joliet

PrairieFest

Celebrating our 25th Anniversary, this festival is attended by approximately 50,000 during the course of the weekend. PrairieFest events are held throughout Oswego with the main festival grounds located at PrairieFest Park, 91 Plank Road. The event features main stage entertainment, children's performers, expo village, petting zoos, pony rides, camel rides, children's activities, parade, bed races, touch a truck event and more. There is no gate admission. The event is free, compliments of our generous business sponsors.

CITY: Oswego

Summer Solstice Indie Music and Craft Beer Festival

"Summer Solstice", the ultimate pairing of ground to glass brewed beverages and independent minded musicians on the cusp of greatness. The scenic Fox River will serve as the backdrop for this unique event in historic downtown Yorkville.

CITY: Yorkville