The village of Tinley Park’s annual block party is getting an upgrade this year — doubling to a two-day festival when it returns July 16 and 17 to Zabrocki Plaza and the surrounding area on Oak Park Avenue.
Hours are from 2 to 10 p.m. July 16 and noon to 7 p.m. July 17.
“It’s always been a great event,” said Amanda Gaus, event specialist with the Village of Tinley Park. “But it’s always been a lot of work for the vendors and organizers for a one-day event. It makes more sense as a two-day event — it allows us to essentially reinvent what we can do with it.”
The festival is not only expanded in terms of an extra day but a new location with more things to do, including two music stages, food vendors, inflatables, a nine-hole mini-golf course, a beanbag tournament and a carousel.
“It’s basically a big summer festival now,” she said. “It’s got something for everyone. There are some ticketed events like the rides, but there’s also a lot of free things to do.”
The musical entertainment will feature 10 bands over the course of two days on two different stages. Saturday’s west stage acts include Matt Zach and Tom at 3 p.m., Reckless at 6 p.m. and JC Entertainment at 8:30 p.m.; and on the east stage Saturday, catch Cadillac Grove at 2 p.m., Rockstar Rodeo at 5 p.m. and Infinity at 8 p.m.
On Sunday, the west stage starts with Five Guys Named Moe at 12:30 p.m. and is followed by the headliner The Walkins at 3 p.m. The east stage will feature Brass from the Past at noon and Johnny Russler and the Beach Bum Band at 4 p.m.
For the younger crowd, a kid’s performance stage will feature magicians, DJs, dancers and other acts targeted at children. Bounce houses and other inflatable attractions — including a giant slide — will also be set up for the kids. They’ll also find oversized yard games, a zip line and a carousel to entertain them.
Like any good summer festival, the Tinley Park Block Party will have plenty of food, with offerings from Primal Cut, Ed & Joe’s, J.W. Hollsteins, Village Pizza and The Open Bottle, among others.
“There’s a lot of great food options — people will have no problem finding something to eat,” Gaus said.
The new location isn’t far from previous editions of the block party on Oak Park Avenue, but it will give patrons more room to spread out and organizers additional space for activities.
“People are going to like this new layout — it’s easier to get around and see everything you can do,” Gaus said.
The jam-packed entertainment schedule should also add to the atmosphere of this year’s block party.
“We’re excited about all the bands we’ve been able to book this year,” she said. “It just makes a summer festival when you have live music and a big crowd to enjoy it.”
Tinley Park Block Party
When: July 16-17
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Where: In and Around Zabrocki Plaza, Oak Park Avenue and North Street, downtown Tinley Park
Tickets: Free
Information: 708-444-5000; tinleypark.org
Jeff Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.