On Tuesday, August 5, things got loud in Flossmoor — fast.
Music blasting from the DJ was already playing across the Village Hall lot, but then came the real head-turner: a helicopter circling overhead.
People stopped mid-conversation, looked up, and waited to see where it would land. Turns out, just across the street from Flossmoor’s village hall.
As soon as it was safe to cross, the crowd didn’t hesitate. Someone shouted, “Get to the chopper!” (Yes, really.) And people did.
Kids and adults lined up to climb inside, ask questions, and snap a bunch of photos. One woman said, “This is the coolest thing I’ve seen all summer,” and judging by the line of excited kids, she wasn’t the only one thinking that.
The helicopter was definitely a highlight, but it wasn’t the only thing going on. Flossmoor’s National Night Out and Touch-a-Truck event ran from 5 to 8 p.m. and is part of a national effort to build stronger relationships between first responders and the people they serve.
Families took guided tours of the police station, and the Flossmoor Fire Department held a live burn house demo at 6:30 p.m.
The Cook County K9 unit came with wags and Cook County Public Health staff offered their support, administering free back-to-school vaccines for kids from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The DJ didn’t let things slow down. He played a solid mix — throwback jams, current hits, people were dancing in the lot, grabbing hot dogs, cooling off with drinks, or just sitting and catching up with neighbors.
Candice Leggett, who was visiting family in Flossmoor, said the event gave kids a rare kind of access.
“Kids are getting a firsthand experience of asking questions to experts on safety and how to help,” she said. “It’s a more approachable interaction that may spark interest and inspiration for all these kids becoming first responders.”
Maria Perez, who was there to support her son, a police officer, said the event showed how community and public safety go hand-in-hand.
“These events matter,” she said. “It shows that the police and fire departments are part of the community, not just there when something goes wrong.”
