A new event is coming to Flossmoor in August.
Chamber Night calls on community members to come together and enjoy live music and a night in downtown Flossmoor.
The event scheduled for Aug.18 kicks off at 5 p.m. and will feature an hour of dining at downtown Flossmoor’s restaurants, which will be having food specials. Organizers said it also will be an opportunity to shop at downtown small businesses.
At 5:45 p.m., the Homewood Flossmoor Suzuki Summer Strings Orchestra will perform on the steps of the Flossmoor Public Library. After that, the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra will play for the crowd around 6:30 p.m.
Mayor Michele Nelson said the orchestra will play show tunes from movies, recognizable to the audience.
The event comes out of a collaboration between the Southland Chamber of Commerce, Homewood Area Chamber of Commerce, the village of Flossmoor, Meijer, BankFinancial and Bionic Content.
Nelson said the idea for the event also came out of her “fondness for the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra,” she said. The orchestra plays a wide range of music from Baroque and classical pieces, to world premieres and modern favorites. In 2020 it was recognized as the “Illinois Professional Orchestra of the Year” by the Illinois Council of Orchestras. IPO previously was recognized as orchestra of the year in 1992 and 2010.
“They are an important part of the Southland, the music they provide and the culture,” she said. “We don’t have a performing arts center here in Flossmoor but I wanted to do something on a smaller scale that could bring live chamber music to our community.”
In addition, Nelson said “it’s always good for kids to see music up close and personal, so I’m really hoping a lot of kids come out for this because in today’s day and age with so much focus being on electronics, to see someone live, performing on an instrument is a treat.”
The event also aims to support the village’s small business community.
“Continuing to shine a spotlight on the unique and wonderful products they carry and the food they serve is an ongoing effort that I think in the end builds a strong community,” Nelson said.
Besides looking forward to the live music on Chamber Night, Nelson said she’s looking forward to seeing her neighbors
“Bring a chair, or a blanket and just enjoy the moment. It’s been a long year. It’s going to be great to get back to seeing more people,” she said.