The village of Palos Park may present Autumn in the Park Festival but the event draws attendees from several communities.
The free event is from Sept. 17-18 outdoors at Palos Park Village Green.
“We’re excited to be back this year. It is our 10th anniversary,” said Palos Park Village Manager Rick Boehm, who added that the 2020 Autumn in the Park Festival was canceled due to coronavirus concerns.
“We’re having what we believe are good bands and good food vendors. What makes us exciting is it’s a community event. People come from all over. Not only our community but neighboring communities enjoy the fellowship of this festival.”
Libido Funk Circus, who play 1960s to current music and various genres, perform from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 17.
The band includes longtime Orland Park residents Desiree Starr (lead vocals), a 1995 graduate of Sandburg High School in Orland Park, and Jeff “Sugar Bear” Harris (guitar).
“Libido Funk Circus actually played our first two festivals and were very popular. People really like this band so we brought them back for our 10th,” said Boehm of Orland Park.
Sept. 18’s live music includes Big Dog Mercer from 3 to 6 p.m. The five-piece band, which performs mostly original music and select covers, includes Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee Marty “Big Dog” Mercer (guitar and vocals) and Palos native Mike Bailey (bass).
“The first band on Saturday played our one and only concert last year. We usually try to get a blues-type band on the afternoon on Saturday because blues and barbecue go together,” Boehm said.
A public tasting around 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18 features barbecue ribs from the Amateur BBQ Rib and Chicken Cook-off Competition for which contestants each prepare and cook 10 baby back rib slabs provided by the village. Contestants also may cook chicken they brought themselves for judging only.
“The barbecue competition brings in a lot of people,” Boehm said.
“We do have a good number of teams that are coming back again. We’ve been fortunate to have a good following of barbecue teams. They are quite talented so we’re able to have a public tasting for the ribs. That’s been wildly popular.
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“We’ve got some master judges, which means they’ve judged more than 30 sanctioned barbecue competitions. They absolutely rave about the quality of the food that our cooks have here.”
Mike & Joe headline from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 18. The modern rock cover band includes Frankfort native Cory Flynn (bass, vocals), who now lives in Munster, Indiana.
“The crowd really enjoys their music,” Boehm said.
“They bring a lot of energy and a lot of different music to the stage. They’re always updating their set list. We have had a good response from our crowd to Mike & Joe so we’re very happy to have them back.”
Autumn in the Park Festival food vendors include Frangella Italian Market and the Original Island Shrimp House, which are both of Palos Park; Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs, which has locations in Oak Park and Chicago’s Union Station; and Palos Park Woman’s Club, which sells hot dogs, chips and drinks.
Sept. 18’s schedule includes college football on the big screen from noon to 10 p.m. and artisan vendors including McCord Gallery and Cultural Center and Palos Fine Arts, which are both of Palos Park, from noon to 6 p.m.
“The Center from Palos Park does the children’s petting zoo Saturday,” said Boehm. The activity is from noon to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 18.
“There’s usually chickens, goats, ducks and so forth. It’s really cute.”
People looking to jump-start their Sept. 18 can attend the parade, which kicks off at 11 a.m. at 82nd Avenue and 123rd Street and travels west to 90th Avenue, ending near the Autumn in the Park Festival grounds.
“We provide something for everybody and it’s still a hometown, smaller event,” Boehm said.
“This is just one of those very quaint type of events that you can come and enjoy yourself. It just is a very relaxing time.”
Free festival parking is at Palos Park Presbyterian Church, 12312 S. 88th Ave.; the Village Courtyard, 8301 W. 123rd St., and the Metra parking lot, 12100-12114 S. 82nd Ave.
Trolley/shuttle service picks up and drops off at the Palos Park Metra lot on south 82nd Avenue; the front of Palos Park Recreation Center, 8901 W. 123rd St.; and the Village Courtyard, 8301 W. 123rd St.
Autumn in the Park Festival
When: 6-11 p.m. Sept. 17; 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Sept. 18
Where: Palos Park Village Green, 8901 W. 123rd St., Palos Park
Tickets: Free
Information: 708-671-3700; palospark.org
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.