Bite the Burbs
Dig into our region's delicious restaurant scene with the third annual Bite the Burbs, Explore Oak Park and Beyond's restaurant week!
Location: Oak Park, Forest Park, Riverside, Brookfield, North Riverside, La Grange Park, Maywood, Elmwood Park, Westchester, Melrose Park, Hillside
Shamrock Scavenger Hunt
Head to Oak Park Conservatory and find the hidden shamrocks! Prizes will be awarded to those that can find all seven scattered among the conservatory's plants. Live shamrocks will also be available for purchase. This is a free event, no registration required. Please note that the Conservatory is closed on Mondays.
Location: Oak Park
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Housing Discrimination - An Historic Perspective
Join Donna Sack and Sarah Doherty at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 1, at Oak Park River Forest Museum to explore digital humanities and public history projects addressing housing discrimination. They will connect Oak Park's stories to broader national narratives. They were key team members of the award-winning digital exhibition, Unvarnished (unvarnishedhistory.org), funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and including OPRF Museum as a partner.
Location: Oak Park
North Riverside Mother-Son Dance
North Riverside's annual mother-son dance is back with some new additions! This year, the theme is Jungle Jam, so think tropical, wild, and fun! Attendees are encouraged to dress in formal or themed attire for the event, the more creative the better! Dance in the gym and so some activities at Village Commons, including photo ops and live reptile encounters provided by The Reptile Den. Non-parental relatives are welcome to register.
Location: North Riverside
National Geographic's Dr. Mireya Mayor: Pink Boots and a Machete
Join National Geographic Explorer Dr. Mireya Mayor for an inspiring journey through her adventures as a primatologist and wildlife correspondent. Dubbed the "female Indiana Jones," Dr. Mayor shares captivating stories from her expeditions, including the discovery of a new species of lemur. Her talk offers a compelling look at the challenges and triumphs of scientific exploration.
Location: River Forest
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43rd Annual Shamrock Fest at Palmer Place
Shamrock Fest is back! Enjoy live music every night leading up to and on St. Patrick's Day at Palmer Place. As well as great music, dig into some great food and watch some great Irish dancing at this favorite annual music festival event.
Location: La Grange
30th Annual Forest Park St. Patrick's Day Parade
The 30th Annual Forest Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a fun-filled day in downtown Forest Park! Enjoy over 65 parade marchers, including bagpipers, Proviso East Marching Band, Irish dancers, local business entries, Medinah Shriners parade units, police & fire departments & much more! The parade kicks off at 1 pm from Madison and Van Buren and travels east on Madison to Elgin. Grab your friends and join us!
Location: Forest Park
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St. Patrick's Day Parade at Robert's Westside
Watch live Irish dancing, listen to great live music and more at Robert's Westside after the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Location: Forest Park
Reading Between the Wines
Enjoy a variety of curated pours while spending time connecting with friends and neighbors at Riverside Public Library. Plus, learn to make the perfect martini at our special breakout session "Martinis and Mezze" with gin and vodka mini-martinis, featuring Kástra Elión vodka, paired with a table share featuring Greek dips and olives.
Location: Riverside
Maple Sugar Festival
Head to Maple Sugar Festival at Austin Gardens to learn how to identify and tap a maple tree, including drilling and setting the tap. Then, simmer the sap over a fire to make syrup and maple candy! Plus, enjoy maple-themed activities in the Austin Gardens Nature Center.
This is a free event and does not require registration.
Location: Oak Park
St. Joseph's Day Table
Come hungry! Enjoy a delicious feast known as the St. Joseph's Day Table, a Sicilian tradition in honor of St. Joseph's Day! The feast is held by the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo charitable organization. Donations are accepted at the door.
Location: Melrose Park
St. Patrick's Day Warm-up ft. the Boils
Enjoy live music from Irish acoustic trio The Boils and an all-you-can-eat loaded corned beef dinner from BabyGold Barbeque. along with a seasonal signature drink, non-alcoholic beverages, wine and Guinness in beautiful, historic Pleasant Home.
Location: Oak Park
Riverside Arts Center: Teaching Artists Exhibition Opening Reception
The Riverside Arts Center is pleased to present a group art exhibition featuring the work of RAC teaching artists. The opening reception includes refreshments and a chance to meet the artists. The exhibition is on view in RAC's FlexSpace Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through April 11.
Location: Riverside
St. Patrick's Day Social
Location: La Grange
Free "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" Screening
Join The Village of North Riverside Parks & Recreation Department for a free screening of the hilarious "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" in Village Commons Gymnasium. Admission is free and concessions are available for purchase.
Location: North Riverside
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Jazz Thaw
Shake off the cold weather blues by enjoying FREE live jazz music at establishments throughout the Downtown Oak Park business district!
Location: Oak Park
Walk the Park
Enjoy a relaxing walk around the walking path in Franklin Park — and the more you move, the better your chances to win! For every lap you complete, you’ll earn a raffle entry for a chance to win exciting prizes. Whether you’re walking for fun, fitness or rewards, this event is perfect for all ages. Bring your friends and family, and get ready to walk, win and enjoy the park!
Location: Franklin Park
Glow Wild: A Lantern Festival of Hope
A breathtaking journey of light, art and conservation, Glow Wild is a new lantern festival at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Wander paths under the moonlight, illuminated by handcrafted lanterns representing wildlife and mythology from around the world.
Location: Brookfield
Riverside Park Mall 50th Anniversary
Head to North Riverside Park Mall March 21 for engaging events to celebrating its 50 years of retail, community and family fun. Events include a 5k indoor walk, customizable shoes, art walk, prizes and a mayoral proclamation and reception
Location: North Riverside
Reptile Den Day
This free, family-friendly and educational event features elaborate reptile and bug exhibits, with opportunities to explore and interact with incredible animals brought to you by the Reptile Den.
Location: North Riverside
Adult Easter Egg Hunt
It's back! Why should the kids have all the fun? Relive your childhood in a grown-up way, with the chance to win everything from booze to gift certificates. Grab your baskets and search for prize-filled eggs throughout Commons Park. The fee includes pizza and 2 drink tickets. Plus, childcare is available to add-on!
Location: North Riverside
Dancing with the Chamber
Location: Brookfield
Ready, Set, Bloom: Spring Market
The season of growth is here! Enjoy a spring-inspired afternoon in the heart of Oak Park’s Hemingway District featuring a curated market of established and emerging designers, artisans and makers. Ready, Set, Bloom is hosted by Style Society and Yoga Loft Studios.
Location: Oak Park
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Breakfast with Bunny
Enjoy breakfast with the Easter Bunny. child will have an opportunity to have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny and take home some goodies. Infants are free with paying sibling. Don’t forget your camera! Registration deadline is March 22nd.
Location: La Grange
Dino Works
Dinosaurs big and small will fill Wonder Works for the children's museum's most anticipated learning theme of the year. Aspiring paleontologists of all ages will be delighted by the wide array of dinosaur activities!
Location: Oak Park
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Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt
Join your friends in a frenzy as you search for your eggs in the dark at North Park! The Easter Bunny wants to remind you to bring your flashlight and Easter basket or bag to help collect eggs. The hunt is cancelled if there is inclement weather.
Location: Franklin Park
Teens & Tweens Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt
Get ready for an adventure when the sun goes down! Grab your flashlight and your basket for a thrilling nighttime Easter egg hunt! Eggs will be hidden across the park and you'll need to use your beam to spot them. It's a race against the dark and a hunt for glowing, hidden prizes.
Location: La Grange
Annual La Grange Egg Hunt
Hop on over for the annual egg hunt at the Park District of La Grange! 🐣🌷 Families are invited to enjoy a fun-filled morning of egg hunting, laughter, and springtime excitement.
Location: La Grange
Breakfast with Bunny
Join the Easter Bunny for a delicious breakfast and get your picture taken! Space is limited, so register early.
Location: Franklin Park
Egg Hunt at North Park
The Easter Bunny invites you for an egg-cellent time scrambling for eggs! Bring your Easter basket or bag to hold all the goodies you find around the park, and keep an eye out for a golden egg. The hunt will be sectioned off into age groups and will be held indoors if there is inclement weather.
Location: Franklin Park
Egg Hunt at James Park
The Easter Bunny invites you for an egg-cellent time scrambling for eggs! Bring your Easter basket or bag to hold all the goodies you find around the park, and keep an eye out for a golden egg. The hunt will be sectioned off into age groups and will be held indoors if there is inclement weather.
Location: Franklin Park
Bunny Bash
The Easter Bunny created an exciting scavenger hunt for kids to find Easter eggs throughout North Riverside Park Mall. Don't miss this annual event! Remember to bring your basket and stick around for dancing, activities and more fun, including a balloon artist!
Location: North Riverside
"Ado": A New Works Reading Presented by Oak Park Festival Theater
Come see a brand-new reimagining of William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" at beautiful, historic Cheney Mansion. This adaptation by Lavina Jahdwani features only the play's women characters, following them as they discuss the events occurring around them. See what happens behind the scenes in Shakespeare's romantic comedy.
Location: Oak Park