Families will have a chance to make a visit to Homewood’s railroad past on Saturday, Oct. 14, when the village hosts its annual Hobo Night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Hobo Night event. (Provided photo from the Village
of Homewood)
Families will have a chance to make a visit to Homewood’s railroad past on Saturday, Oct. 14, when the village hosts its annual Hobo Night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The event will take place at the Homewood Rail Park at the intersection of Chestnut Road and Park Avenue just north of the Amtrak station.
at the 2015 Hobo Night
event. (Provided photo
by Annie Lawrence)
On tap are storyteller Hobo Joe, a children’s hobo costume contest, s’mores, a bonfire, samples of hobo stew compliments of Redbird Cafe, an old fashioned sing-a-long led by MG Bailey and tours of the rail park’s retired and restored Illinois Central locomotive and caboose.
Anyone under the age of 18 years old will receive a hobo name and a hobo decoder book to learn how the rail-riders communicated long ago.
Storyteller Hobo Joe will regale the audience with yarns from the olden days. Attendees are encouraged to wear hobo costumes, and there will be a costume contest for those under 18-years-old.
Everyone will also receive a sample of hobo stew provided by Redbird Cafe.
Homewood has a strong history with the railroad. The community’s got its start as businesses began to congregate near Thornton Station in the early 1850s. Today, Homewood is a stop for the Metra Electric Line commuter trains and Amtrak cross-country passenger trains. Homewood is also on a main line for Canadian National Railway, which has its U.S. headquarters in Homewood.
The event is hosted by the Village of Homewood Rail Committee and is free and open to the public. For more information visit www.HomeSweetHomewood.com