Was another fest that had some become fallen to the victim of substantial cutbacks…read more With the absence of many antique dealers taking part, bargains,etc. Plus one/two blocks shorter of the fest length. But nevertheless can still be a pretty fun fest. Despite some recent woes.

This is a bygone era. There are so few Czech left in the area. The parade started over an hour late…read moreand was disappointing. No Czech food to be found. There was a small food court set up by 6 1st court but it was all Mexican food.

This is one of my favorite summer festival to come and enjoy with my family. Great Food,…read moreEntertainment and Good Vibes. I have been coming here for many years and the vibes have always been good. The food prices are very reasonable. Food & Drinks range from $3.00 to maybe $6.00 if that much. Very inexpensive and budget friendly. This festival is a place for you to try different authentic foods, music and good vibes. You can shop the vendors tents and find some cool things to purchase. There are several stages where you can enjoy a live concert. There is a carnival with a few rides for the kids to stay entertained. I always look forward to coming here year. Taste of Melrose Park is always around the first week in September.

A bunch of us checked out the Taste of Melrose Park during Labor Day weekend. This is a food fest…read morewith free admission. Amazingly every food item was priced at $3 or less. It was fun to try all sorts of tasty foods. Many of them were Italian bites but there were other Mexican-style foods as well. We enjoyed items such as Italian beef, arancini, flat "fried meatball" sandwich, a "salad sandwich" that was quite good because of the fresh bread, cheese fries, cannoli, root beer float, slushie and a lovely serving of sfingi (freshly made "donut holes" made by nuns, how can you top that?). There are fair faves such as promotional freebies, carnival rides, a guy on stilts, and a clown pushing a mini-clown in a stroller (wha wha??). There is some entertainment as well (we heard bagpipers after someone belted out the Star Spangled Banner). This was sort of a folksy food fest, and the price was right. If you are looking for something fun to do next Labor Day weekend in the 'burbs, keep Taste of Melrose Park in mind.

This is a yearly event every September on Ogden Ave which is also Route 66. Participants show off a…read morewide variety of cars from rusty old pick-ups to original 57 Chevy's to low riders. If you like cars, it's definitely worth the trip at least once. There were some awesome rides!

I love this festival! This is one of few street festivals that I actually look forward to every…read moreyear. Unlike most festivals in Chicago, this one is giagantic! They have two stages that have bands and perfomers. In the park inside the fest there are also activities for either kids or performances to watch. Fiesta del Sol is also cigarette and alcohol free. Yes, sounds strange....festival but no booze?? You don't really need it here. This festival is very family friendly and has something for everyone. Now lets really get to what I like about this festival........THE FOOD!!! Unbelieveable tacos, sopes, elotes, and well pretty much any Mexican dish. The food is made fresh and won't put a huge dent in your wallet. Take that other festivals!!! I bought 7 tacos and a paleta all for 11 bucks... not too shabby!! When was the last time you went to a street festival where you didn't shell out at least 20 bucks?? Also there is no admission! Great food, cheap prices, great music, fun times....what is not to like???

Every year, since the early 70's it seemed we had djs showcasing popular urban music. This year,…read morethey didn't even have a House music venue. I don't know if they are justifying it by saying, it keeps the gangs out but the gangs no longer really follow House music trends. Plus, they still had gang fights. As I walked my bike through the festival it felt alienating. On tv they called it America's largest latino fest and that's a lie.

I love this event!! We've lived in Oak Park just over 20 years and we still learn about so many…read moregreat community organizations and make new connections every year. I've only missed Day in our Village a few times! There are representatives from schools, churches, health & wellness places, political organizations, every kind of non-profit you can imagine, and a few local shops but mostly non-profits. If you are looking to find a place to volunteer, this is a great opportunity to go booth to booth and learn about everything this amazing village has to offer! Booths give out free things. There are also food vendors and live music! It does get very crowded, so get there early! Bring sunscreen, a bag to collect all the hand-outs, and a water bottle.

A Day In Our Village is an annual fair that takes place (these days) in Scoville Park (at the…read morecorner of Oak Park Avenue and Lake Street). There's about a hundred booths featuring local companies and organizations. There's a series of musicians throughout the day. The whole thing is a nice way to learn about local stuff. A lot of the companies and organizations have brochures, give aways, and small activities (massages, bubbles, solar ovens, and the like). It's a bit crowded and can be overwhelming.

We saw Twelfth Night (July-Aug 2025) last night. I have been attending OPFT since we moved here…read more15+ years ago and this was one of the best Shakespeare productions they've had. I saw that the Tribune criticized OPFT's take for being too heavy on the comedy and light on the romance. I disagree; I thought that the emphasis on the comedy was a huge plus. Malvolio stole the show with Toby and Sir Andrew as great comedic support. Olivia's flip-flopping was also well executed for some good fun. The Fool had to compete hard for laughs.... I was delighted to find that this production had even our kids (11-13) laughing like crazy. This is excellent accessible Shakespeare in the park that is great for the whole family. Tickets for kids under 12 are just $5.

Why isn't there more outdoor theatre in the Chicago area? I mean, to some extent I get it (here in…read more2022, my car was dappled in slush and snow on April 8), but really this should be a bigger thing. As I think of it the only real options for this are Theatre on the Lake, occasionally when there's a Shakes in the park sort of thing happening, and Oak Park Festival Theatre in Oak Park. The work done by this company is really high quality, so you'll definitely get your money's worth and enjoy the performance if you enjoy the play. I came here in 2016 to see Pygmalion after a few years of saying I should go and then not doing so. OPFT has an illustrious history: The theatre was established in 1975 and has included such notable thespians (of course unknown at the time) as David Mamet as William H. Macy. Unfortunately, in November 2021 there was a fire that destroyed much of their equipment, historical documents, and I'm hopeful their fundraising efforts will prepare them to mount a new season this or next summer! Austin Gardens is in downtown Oak Park Parking is found on surrounding streets, or in the village parking lot (free after 6 pm). Accessibility is a bit harder to measure. It's a park, so it is as accessible as any park, but depending upon the type of accommodation you need, your mobility, etc. it may vary how accessible it is for an individual. They don't have wheelchairs or anything for patron use as far as I know, and as a park it may be difficult to hear at times. Alternatively, both the Green Line and the UP-W Metra line are within 3-5 blocks of the park, so that's a great choice for transportation, too. There are restaurants nearby, or for an even more fun option, bring your dinner to picnic before and during the play. Just don't disrupt your fellow patrons (so that means if you have things in wrapping and what not, maybe wrap in cloth or something that's not going to make a bunch of noise as you open it!).