Downers Grove’s weeklong FoundersFest to highlight history and community
Get ready for a week of history, fun, and community spirit as the Downers Grove Historical Society rolls out a full lineup of exciting events for FoundersFest 2025!
Kicking off on Saturday, April 26, swing into the festivities with a golf outing at the historic Belmont Golf Club.
Then, all week long, enjoy a variety of programs, and a “Night at the Tivoli,” featuring none other than Historian of the Year Ken Lerner. Also see a documentary on the legendary Dr. Dieter Gruen, a Downers Grove resident and famed Manhattan Project scientist.
The Belmont Golf Club and the Downers Grove Historical Society are teaming up to bring you the 47th annual Pine Hollow Open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 26. Golfers, age 18 and up, are eligible to compete in this nine-hole stroke play event. Tee offs begin at 11 a.m. Cost is $27 for residents and $31 for non-residents. Call (630) 963-1306 for more information and to register
On Saturday, April 26, help the Downers Grove Park District keep the parks clean and free of litter from 10 a.m. to noon. Join Greener Grove in picking up trash, spreading mulch, and more. Gloves will be provided. It is for ages 12 or older. Register via www.greenergrove.org.
On Sunday, April 27, join the Downers Grove North High School’s Environmental Club as they host a tree planting event at Lyman Woods Interpretive Center, 901 31st St. It will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information or registration, visit tinyurl.com/544cfmpu.
The annual fundraiser, “A Night at the Tivoli!,” will be 6 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave. Tickets are $10 via dghistory.org/event/night-at-the-tivoli-2025/.
It kicks off with an organ performance by Taylor Trimby followed by a presentation on the history of the Tivoli Theatre by Steven Margison.
The Downers Grove Historical Society will be presenting the 2025 Historian of the Year award to Ken Lerner who is being honored for his decades-long involvement in preserving the village’s natural and architectural heritage. “Historian of the Year” is an award that the historical society uses to recognize individuals who have significantly promoted and preserved Downers Grove History.
Attendees will then be among the first to see a new Downers Grove documentary. The Historical Society is partnering with Jim Toth of Node Films to premiere his new documentary titled “Change: A Warming Warning” which tells the fascinating life story of one of Argonne National Laboratory’s renowned scientists, Dr. Dieter M. Gruen.
This compelling film follows the life of this 102-year-old Downers Grove resident, including his escape from Nazi Germany as a teenager, to being recruited to the World War II Manhattan Project and how he ended up working at Argonne and settling in Downers Grove.
This documentary culminates with his groundbreaking contributions to the next generation of solar power.
On Thursday, May 1, come to a special Downers Grove FoundersFest presentation about the Edith Farnsworth House, a Ludwig Mies van der Rohe-designed glass and steel house along the Fox River in Plano.
The Friends of the Edwards House will host “Hidden Histories of the Farnsworth House” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Lytle Auditorium, 4919 Belmont Road, Downers Grove. Scott Mehaffey, executive director of the Edith Farnsworth House, will share some of the lesser-known details behind this iconic example of International Style architecture.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with light refreshments. The presentation begins at 7 p.m. Cost is $15. Sign up via dghistory.org.
To cap off the week’s events on Saturday, May 3, start your day with the Family Bike Ride at the southeast corner of Fishel Park, 1036 Grove St. Join in this slow bicycle ride around the historic neighborhoods of Downers Grove. Registration will be at 9 a.m., with departure at 9:30 a.m. sharp. All ages are welcome for this free family-friendly event.
On Saturday, May 3, spend a spring day at Country in the Park, part of the annual Downers Grove FoundersFest celebration. It will be noon to 3 p.m. at the Downers Grove Museum, 831 Maple Ave. Families will visit with farm animals, play 1850s pioneer-era games, live music, and more. This free event is hosted by Downers Grove Park District, Downers Grove Public Library, and Downers Grove Historical Society.
Additional parking is available at the new Civic Center parking lot (one block north of the museum), or at Lincoln Center (two blocks west of the museum).
For a full schedule and details, go to dghistory.org/foundersfest/.