The summer event season will get into full swing on Friday and Saturday, June 3 and June 4, with the Homewood Artisan Street Fair, and on Saturday, June 4, with Flossmoor’s once-in-a-lifetime Zip Code Party.
The Zip Code Party refers to the convergence of the date and Flossmoor’s zip code, 60422; to celebrate that rare event, the village and Flossmoor’s Future have planned a day filled with cycling, live music, food and fun activities in Flossmoor Park.
The Artisan Street Fair will run from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 3, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 4, on Martin Avenue from Ridge Road to Hickory Road and Hickory Road from Dixie Highway to Harwood Avenue.
The event will feature more than 80 artists and crafters displaying their work, plus live music, food and activities for young and old.
One-man-band MG Bailey will kick off the music at 4 p.m. on Friday, followed by How Rude! from 7 to 9 p.m.
Other programs Friday include bead art making from 4 to 8 p.m. and Creating Your Best Blooms with Blum at 6 p.m.
Saturday schedule
- 9 a.m.: Yoga in Independence Park at the corner of Dixie Highway and Hickory Road.
- 10 a.m.: Music by Mark Alexander.
- 10 a.m.: Herbal Sanctuary with Blum.
- 11:30 a.m.: Zumba.
- Noon: Line dancing.
- Noon-1:30 p.m.: Cardboard mosaics craft with Art Corner Frames.
- Noon: Yoga for kids.
- 2-3:30 p.m.: Sand art.
- 3 p.m.: Yoga for kids.
- 4 p.m.: Memorable Designs with Blum.
- 4 p.m.: Bike craft.
- 4 to 6 p.m.: Music by Timeless Evolution.
The event also will feature the bike raffle sponsored by the Homewood Business Association and GoodSpeed Cycles.
The Zip Code Party will begin with the annual Bike the Gem ride, which follows the 13.1-mile route of the Hidden Gem Half Marathon, which is run in September. Cyclists will at the Infant Jesus of Prague parking lot on Flossmoor Road about 11 a.m. The ride will begin about 11:45 a.m.
The party is sponsored by the village of Flossmoor and designed and operated by Flossmoor’s Future.
Flossmoor’s Future President Tom Dobrez said Bike the Gem will have a different start this year. Last year, there were so many cyclists that the start was a bit jammed up, he said. So this year, cyclists will be more spread out, lined up along Flossmoor Road similar to the way runners start the Gem.
This year, there’s a second ride for youngsters who might find 13.1 miles a little too much. The 13.1 block ride will begin about 12:45 p.m., with riders and parents or guardians gathering about noon in the IJP parking lot.
Both rides are expected to reach the inflated finish line arch at approximately the same time, and riders will be encouraged to head straight for Flossmoor Park for the start of the party with a welcome by Mayor Michelle Nelson at 1:30 p.m.
The schedule:
- 1 p.m.: DJ Tone B Nimble starts the music.
- 1:30 p.m.: Welcoming remarks.
- 2-3:30 p.m.: Music by Motown and Soul Revue.
- 3:30-4:15 p.m.: Home run derby sponsored by Flossmoor Baseball and Softball.
- 3:45 p.m.: Walking sculpture tour sponsored by the Flossmoor Public Art Commission.
- 4:15-5:45 p.m.: Music by the Lotus Kings (Santana tribute).
- 4:30-5:45 p.m.: Chicago Red Stars soccer clinic.
- 6 p.m.: Playing of the new Flossmoor anthem, “Flossmoor, Once More.”
- 6:30-8:15 p.m.: Music by Deacon Blues (Steely Dan tribute).
- 8:30-11 p.m.: After party at Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery.
With help from the Flossmoor Green Commission and a plan to use recycling and composting, organizers are hoping the event will have close to a zero carbon footprint.
There will be opportunities to purchase Zip Code Party themed T-shirts and caps. A special lager beer will be for sale in limited edition cans, Dobrez said. It will also be on tap during the event.
The two events lead an summer lineup that appears to be as full of opportunities to gather as any pre-pandemic season.
Mark your calendar
- Trail Mix Music Fest will hold its first summer concert at 7 p.m. Friday, June 10, at Izaak Walton Nature Preserve. The headline performer will be Grammy-winner Don Flemons, formerly with the Carolina Chocolate Drops.
- Anew and the Village of Homewood will host the second annual Dance Away Domestic Violence fundraiser on Saturday, June 11, from 3 to 6 p.m. in downtown Homewood’s Martin Square. The event will include line dancing, Zumba and cardio drumming.
- Pride Party at Flossmoor Community Church from 5 to 8 p.m. at the church’s Community House, 847 Hutchison Road. The family-friendly event will food, cocktails, merchandize benefitting LGBTQ-owned businesses and causes, music, entertainment and photo ops.
- Another event returning to its pre-pandemic glory is the Homewood 4th of July parade, which attracts thousands of people who line Dixie Highway and Ridge Road as the parade makes its way from the St. Joseph Catholic Church parking lot at 17950 Dixie Highway to Izaak Walton Nature Preserve at 1100 Ridge Road. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. on July 4, and will follow its traditional route.
- The Wall that Heals will be set up at Marian Catholic Church and open for viewing from Thursday, July 7 through Sunday, July 10. The visit by replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is sponsored by Bloom Township.
- Healthy Homewood Fest will expand upon the first Homewood health fair held in October 2021. This year, the event will be held from noon to 8 p.m. on July 16 in the 18100 block of Martin Avenue, co-sponsored by the village of Homewood and Serendipity Yoga Studio. The event will have live music, wellness tents and healthy and delicious food options. Vendors will offer a range of healthy products, including candles, essential oils, apparel and wellness services.
- The second annual Chamber Night will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on July 21 in downtown Flossmoor. The concert will begin at 5:45pm with the Miyako Jazz Ensemble. The headline performance will follow with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Brass Quintet.