The annual Homewood Public Works open house on May 18 will be the first outdoor event of the season, and it will be followed before the end of the month by the first outdoor farmers market and the Art & Garden Street Fair.
The public works open house, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 17755 Ashland Ave., is a family favorite.
Kids get a chance to climb on and (with supervision and assistance) operate heavy machinery. Parents and children get to learn about how the village’s infrastructure works and is maintained.
There will be tours of the water plant facility and demonstrations of tree planting and water main repairs, plus games, crafts, popcorn and hot dogs. For more information call 708-206-2906.
Next up is the opening day of the Homewood Farmers Market summer season on Saturday, May 25. The market will be open each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 12.
The market is located in Martin Square, a half-block west of Dixie Highway between Chestnut Road and Ridge Road.
Homewood Events Manager Marla Youngblood said the market will have a number of fun activities and a kids’ area on opening day.
The month will end with the first day of the Art & Garden Street Fair, formerly the Artisan Street Fair. The festival often is held on the first weekend of June, but this year the two-day event will be Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1.
There will be more than 70 vendors in downtown Homewood selling a wide variety of high-quality handcrafted items, Youngblood said. Vendors include local and regional artists, jewelry designers, textiles, candles, bath and body products, small batch foods, wood and furniture makers, repurposed and vintage items and an array of food and drinks.
The fair will be open from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Food vendors available both days include Twisted Q, Sno Daze, TJ’s Kettle Corn and more.
There will be a craft area for children on Saturday with limited spots available.
On Friday, live music will fill the air from 4 to 6 p.m. with Big Weekend playing classic rock. Local band Not My Dad will perform from 7 to 9 p.m.
On Saturday, Fifty-One Lincoln Band will take the stage at 10 a.m. with a variety of 1960s hits and rocking blues. The PriSSillas will start at 1 p.m. The Southside Soul Kings playing blues, R&B and funky soul will perform from 4 to 6 p.m.