There’s plenty happening in the Homewood and Flossmoor communities to keep everyone entertained this month.
Homewood parade, picnic return
After a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Homewood’s popular 4th of July parade and community picnic will return this year.
As in pre-pandemic times, the parade will start at the St. Joseph Catholic Church parking lot 17951 Dixie in Homewood, at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 4. It will go south to Ridge Road, then east a mile to Izaak Walton Nature Preserve, 1100 Ridge Road.
Homewood Events Manager Allisa Opyd said the event will be “filled with marching band, clowns, dancers and more.”
Following the parade, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., will be an old fashioned July 4th picnic in the park, Opyd said. There will be family activities and games. Volunteers will serve hamburgers, brats, hot dogs, corn on the cob, soft drinks and water.
Flossmoor parade
Flossmoor Volunteer Fire Department invites local kids to decorate bikes and wagons for the annual Independence Day parade on Monday, July 4. For the safety of participants, battery-operated and motorized vehicles are prohibited in the parade.
Lineup will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Parker Junior High School. The parade will begin at 10 a.m., heading east on Flossmoor Road to downtown, where the community will be treated to refreshments and a demonstration by the Flossmoor Fire Department.
The Wall that Heals
The week after Independence Day, area residents will have an opportunity to visit The Wall that Heals, a replica of the Washington, D.C., Vietnam War memorial. The memorial will be staged at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights. It will be open 24 hours a day from the afternoon of July 6 until about 2 p.m. July 10.
There will be an opening ceremony at 1 p.m. July 7 and a closing ceremony at 1 p.m. on July 10. There will be a candlelight vigil at 7:30 p.m. on July 9.
Sponsors are still looking for volunteers to help set up, take down and help tend the exhibit. For more information, call 708-754-9400 or email Katie Kelly at [email protected].
Wednesday Farmer’s Market
The Wednesday evening Homewood Farmers Markets will run weekly from 5 to 9 p.m. July 6 to Aug. 10. The evening market is located on Martin Avenue Square between Ridge and Chestnut roads. Visitors can enjoy prepared foods, live music and fresh produce.
Healthy Homewood Fest
The second annual Healthy Homewood Fest will be outdoors this year. The festival is Saturday, July 16, from noon to 8 p.m. on Martin Avenue south of Ridge Road.
The event will provide music, dancing, meditation, yoga and an array of vendors specializing in health and wellness.
H-F Park District
The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District hosts programs for all ages.
The Frog Lady entertains kids at 10 a.m. July 19 at Irwin Park. She’ll bring along 20 live reptiles and amphibians for hands-on fun.
A fun way for adults to have break time is with Grown-Up Recess, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Apollo Park on July 11 (repeated on Aug. 8). Take a break to enjoy time playing kickball, whiffle ball, bags and more.
It’s Grown-Up Night at the Splash Pad for anyone 18 and older on July 21 (repeated Aug. 4), between 6 and 8 p.m. Play around in the fountains for a fun, carefree evening.
The park district is hosting Family Day Camp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 16. It’s a chance for campers – young and older – to experience camp activities, including crate climbing and a climbing tower.
Details and costs on park district happenings is at hfparks.com.
Starry Nights at Irwin Park
On the entertainment side, the park district is presenting Starry Nights with Street Jaxkson Band serving up soul, funk and rock ‘n roll on the lawn at the Irwin Center at 7:30 p.m. July 14. This is a free concert.
Community Band concert
District 153 band director Matt Johnson will be conducting the Community Band, made up of adult volunteer musicians, for two concerts at 7 p.m. July 7 and again on July 21, on the lawn at Irwin Park. These are free concerts.
Homewood Science Center
The Homewood Science Center does amazing work. The HSC STEAM Studio is in the middle of a major remodeling program. Edie Dobrez, executive director of HSC, said it’s support from the community that keeps changes happening at HSC.
Come out and support HSC at its Summer Fest from 7 to 10 p.m. July 28 under a tent at Rabid Brewing, 17759 Bretz Drive, in Homewood. A $60 ticket to the benefit includes drink/beer tickets, fest-style food, including Aurelio’s and Walking Tacos treats, and entertainment from Not My Dad’s Band. There’s also an online auction accessed through the homewoodsciencecenter.org website.
Chamber Night in downtown Flossmoor
The second annual Chamber Night will bring music to downtown Flossmoor from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 21. The “shop, wine and dine” event will give everyone a chance to visit local restaurants and businesses before the concert begins at 5:45 p.m. with the Miyako Jazz Ensemble followed by the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Brass Quintet.
The concert, open to the public, is free.
IPO summer concerts
The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Summer@ Olympia Fields Country Club 2022 continues with performances at 6:15 p.m. and again at 7:45 p.m. On July 13, an IPO String Quartet will perform works by Montgomery, O’Connor, Glass and Fung, and on July 27 the IPO Woodwind Quartet will perform works by Mills, Still, del Aguila and d’Rivera. Tickets are $39 and can be purchased online at ipomusic.org or at 708-481-7774. Dinner at the country club is available but a spot must be reserved in advance.
Learn about the art
Want to know what inspired the Richard Haas murals in Homewood? You’ll have a chance to learn about the 15 t’rompe l’oeil style paintings on buildings around the village during a walking tour starting at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 31, at Martin Square in downtown Homewood. The fee will support the Flossmoor Veterans Memorial. Participants can also receive a copy of the book “Richard Haas Mural in Homewood, Illinois” by Kristine Condon. Details are at flossmoorvets.square.site.