Get ready to party at Oak Brook Palooza
Oak Brook's traditional quiet end to summer is about to change.
For the first time, the Oak Brook Park District will offer a two-day Summer Palooza celebration for residents and surrounding communities Saturday and Sunday.
Officially, the event marks the park district's 45th anniversary. But park district spokeswoman Shirell Mollo said it was also created simply to end summer with a bang.
"We want to have an event that could end the summer in a really nice way for families, before they start back to school or their fall schedules" she said."
Organizers planned Summer Palooza specifically to include events that appeal to all ages. Mollo said they had little children in mind when they decided on a petting zoo and pony rides, while they targeted adults with a beanbag tournament.
"Sometimes people go to these things and think, 'Oh, it's just for my younger kids,'æ" Mollo said. "But we've got something for everyone in the family, including that difficult (to please) 10- to 13-year-old age group."
Even the musical entertainment -- a Beatles cover band -- was booked with cross-generation appeal in mind.
All events and admission will be free at the festival, and organizers are planning to make Summer Palooza a low-cost tradition.
Plans are already in the works for next year's celebration and Mollo said the park district hopes to expand its offerings, specifically more music.
"We really want this to be something people look forward to and mark on their calendars," she said.
In case of inclement weather, all activities will be moved to the Family Recreation Center gymnasium and the petting zoo and pony rides will be canceled.
Summer Palooza
The festival runs from Saturday to Sunday at the Oak Brook Park District, 1450 Forest Gate Road. Admission and parking are free. Concessions will be for sale. Call (630) 645-9590 or visit www.obparks.org.
SATURDAY
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free court time at racquet club
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Car show
10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. All-ages $100 coin hunt
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Live broadcast by Star 96.7 radio
10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Moon jump
11 a.m. All-ages relay races
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Face painting and balloonist
Noon Bean bag tournament for ages 16 and older
Noon to 5 p.m. Free admission to the Family Aquatic Center and Premiere Fitness; petting zoo
1 to 4 p.m. Pony rides
1 to 5 p.m. DJ
2 p.m. Free ice cream
3 p.m. Adult softball 12-inch home run derby; Karaoke idol
6 to 7 p.m. Stockword, the World's Youngest Beatles Tribute Band
7 p.m. Free popcorn
7:15 p.m. Tae Kwon Do demonstration
8:30 p.m. Movies in the Park: "The Lion King" and "X-Men 3: The Last Stand"
SUNDAY
10 to 11 a.m. Disc golf introductory clinic
11 a.m. to noon Windy City K-9 Show
Noon Disc golf tournament