NOVEMBER
The Bradley American Legion is collecting Candy for the Troops. If you have leftover Halloween candy that might otherwise go to waste, they would love for you to drop it off at their 766 Lounge at 835 West Broadway in Bradley by Saturday, November 14th. Through the “Adopt a Soldier” program, your donations will bring a little sweetness to the brave men and women serving our country.
The Manteno Church of the Nazarene will host a Fall Craft and Vendor Fair on Saturday, November 14th from 9am to 3pm in the church at 698 Locust Street (Route 50) in Manteno. There will be crafts, gifts and treats. This event is being held to raise funds for their youth group.
The Bourbonnais Township Park District will host its 13th annual Turkey Trot along the Perry Farm Park trails on Saturday, November 14th. This family-friendly Thanksgiving Tradition offers a 10K run, a 5K run or a 2-mile walk. Predict your finish time, and if you’re the closest, you’ll take home a turkey. Early Bird Registration is open now until Sunday, October 25th to guarantee your race shirt. Race Day Registration will open at 7:30am.
The Cissna Park FFA Scholarship Auction will be held on Saturday, November 14th at the Cissna Park High School. A pork loin sandwich meal will be available from 4 to 7pm and the auction begins at 6pm. Items include agriculture products, gravel, baked goods, seed, tools, toys, oil changes, collectibles, gift certificates and more. Proceeds will benefit Cissna Park FFA members. Items can be seen on facebook and bids can be placed at “Cissna Park FFA (dot) com”.
Local nonprofit organization “Fight Club Survivor” will host a fall Mystery Bingo fundraiser in the Beecher Amvets Hall on Saturday, November 14th. Doors to the venue at 532 Gould Street will open at 4:30 and the bingo begins at 6pm. There will be raffles and vendors, special games, food and drinks available, even a split-the-pot drawing. Tickets are $20 each and will be available at the door. The fun wraps up around 10pm. This event celebrates breast cancer survivors and our military veterans.
The Bradley Lions Club will host another all-you-can-eat breakfast with pancakes, sausage, and biscuits & gravy on Saturday, November 21st from 7:30 to 11am at the Bradley Community Center on West Broadway Street. It’s $8 per person, but kids 5 and under eat for free. Call (815) 932-9180 for local delivery of 5 orders or more. There’s no delivery fee. Proceeds from this breakfast will help fund BBCHS Special Olympics.
Faith Baptist Church will host their “Trinkets and Treasures” Craft and Bake Sale on Friday, November 20th from 9am to 2pm and from 9am to noon on Saturday, November 21st. Entry is free to stop in and shop unique handmade crafts and delightful treats in the church gymnasium at 1280 Armour Road in Bourbonnais.
The Newton County 4-H Council and Building Committee will host a Christmas Craft Show inside the 4-H building at the Newton County Fairgrounds in Kentland, Indiana on Saturday, November 21st from 9am to 2pm. Find the perfect holiday gifts, decor and more. Breakfast and lunch will be served.
The 41st annual Dugan Family “Fill the Bus Toy Drive” will take place Saturday, November 21st in the parking lot in front of Dick’s Sporting Goods on Route 50 in Bradley from 10am to 1pm. This event is driven each year by community leaders who encourage the public to drop off new, unwrapped toys to help make it a joyous Christmas morning for all children in our area. Just look for the big River Valley Metro bus! All toys collected will be distributed by local community organizations. This toy drive is sponsored in part by our local Milner Media radio stations.
The Knights of Columbus on South Indiana Avenue in Kankakee will host an evening of entertainment on Saturday, November 21st with “Dueling Pianos” from 6 to 9pm. Doors open at 5:30 and tickets are $35 each. There will be a cash bar and you must be at least 21 to attend. Proceeds will go toward remodeling the Casey Club. Tickets are now available at the Knights of Columbus, or by calling (815) 932-2031.
The Bradley American Legion will host a “Friendsgiving” event Sunday, November 22nd in their 766 Lounge beginning at 1pm. You do not have to be a member or a veteran to attend. Everyone is invited to this family-friendly afternoon of food, laughter, friendship and giving thanks. The Legion will provide the main dish. Attendees are asked to bring a side dish to share. The Legion is at 835 West Broadway in Bradley.
DECEMBER
The Village of Bourbonnais will hold its 6th annual “Rockin’ Around the Tree Lighting Ceremony” in the Grove at Goselin Park on Thursday, December 3rd at 6pm. Bring the family out to experience the magic of the season as Mayor Jeff Keast lights the Village Christmas tree. Enjoy festive performances from Bourbonnais elementary students, a special visitor from the North Pole, touch-a-truck, and lots of holiday cheer.
The 80th annual Saint George Church Stag and Fish Fry will be Friday, December 4th from 6 to 11pm in their Parish Hall at 5272 East 5000 North Road in Bourbonnais. A $12 donation gets you a shot at some door prizes, and all the fish you can eat. No carry outs. Raffle tickets will be available for a donation of $5 each. There will be big cash payouts for first, second and third prize. You don’t have to be present to win.
The Les Artisans Arts and Crafts Fair Holiday Market will be held in the Expo Center at the Kankakee County Fairgrounds from 9am to 3pm on Saturday, December 5th. Shop from dozens of makers, bakers, artists and growers. Enjoy specialty foods and coffee, lunch items and more. Admission is a suggested one-dollar donation at the door to benefit the Bourbonnais Grove Historical Society.
The Sons of the American Legion Squadron 551 invites you and your children to stop in and have Pancakes with Santa at 7am on Saturday, December 5th inside the Onarga American Legion at 608 West Lincoln Avenue. They will be accepting donations for the breakfast.
The Kankakee County Housing Authority will host three events in one place during its “Empower Kankakee Community Day” on Saturday, December 5th in the Community Room at Kankakee High School. This day of community support, housing partnership and career growth will feature a 100 bed giveaway, Family Self-Sufficiency job fair, and a live Q&A landlord symposium. This will take place from 10am until 1pm.
Mark your calendar for “Christmas in Manteno”, happening downtown on Saturday, December 5th with the arrival of Santa Claus, Christmas Tree Lane, the Manteno Business Stroll, the Holiday Market hosted by the Community of Arts Council of Kankakee County, and the annual lighting of Main Street. More details to come!
The annual “Jingle Bell Run” to raise funds for the Arthritis Foundation of Illinois will take place at Kankakee Community College on Sunday, December 6th. Holiday costumes and attire are encouraged for this festive 5k run and walk that will begin promptly at 9am. Find out all the details and register today at “JBR (dot) org (slash) Kankakee”.
The Bradley American Legion Auxiliary Post 766 will host “Cookies and Crafts with Santa Sully” on Sunday, December 6th. You can decorate and eat free cookies, make Christmas crafts, and take free photos with Santa Claus from 2:30 to 4:30pm. This holiday event will be fun for the whole family at 835 West Broadway Street in Bradley.
Bishop McNamara Baseball will host a Christmas Market in the school on West Brookmont Boulevard in Kankakee on Sunday, December 6th from 1 to 4pm. Shop from over 50 vendors for unique gifts, home decor, clothing, holiday items and more. Baseball raffle basket tickets will be sold here, and photo ops with Santa will be available for a $5 donation.
The “Santa’s Helpers Craft Show” will take place Saturday, December 12th from 9am to 2pm in the Grant Park Community Center at 209 Dixie Highway. Meet Santa Claus, buy local and shop small with 35 unique vendors selling holiday gifts, handcrafted treasures, arts and crafts.
A Winter Market will be held Saturday, December 12th from 11am to 4pm at Deer Ridge Barn, 4345 West 1500 Road North in Kankakee. Admission is free. You’ll find local vendors, food trucks, handmade crafts, baked goods, apparel, jewelry and more. There will also be live music, face-painting, and free pictures with Santa Claus.
You can shop some of your favorite Farmers’ Market vendors in the off season on Saturday, December 19th during the Winter Market, a cozy and intimate indoor market that will be spread across two floors inside the Majestic building in downtown Kankakee that day from 8am until noon. Santa Sully will be there to greet the children and take photos.
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