To-Dos
With summer break fast approaching, we’ve curated a list of local activities for the entire family to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for memorable musical performances or fun in the sun, we’ve got all that and more on this season’s selection of the best in the western suburbs.
Cats
Paramount Theatre Aurora
April 30-June 15
Paramount’s creative team has re-envisioned this classic musical, bringing a new layer and energy to this Broadway-staple. Cats was inspired by a collection of poems by T.S. Eliot, from which the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber crafted an unforgettable score and story. The show has been bringing audiences into the fantastic world of Jellicle Cats since its inception in 1981. Cats is the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score. Showtimes vary by date.
Inaugural Elmhurst History Museum Concert
June 6, 6:30 PM
Elmhurst History Museum
ElmhurstHistory.org
The Elmhurst History Museum is celebrating the opening of their new public, outdoor performance space with an inaugural concert, and they want you to join in on the festivities! There will be a ribbon cutting and remarks from the museum team before a performance by the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra. Guests can bring chairs, blankets, and coolers, and the event is free to all attendees.
Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival
June 7-8, 10 AM-4 PM
Burlington Park
HinsdaleChamber.com
The Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce proudly presents the 52nd Annual Fine Arts Festival. This summer staple during the first weekend of June brings people from all over the Chicagoland area to Hinsdale. Walk through Burlington Park, and enjoy a variety of booths featuring unique, classy, and fun fine art from over 85 different artists.
Elmhurst Centre for Performing Arts: An Intimate Evening with Miguel Cervantes
June 12 at 7:00 PM
Hammerschmidt Chapel in Elmhurst
ECPA-Elmhurst.org
No one has been Hamilton longer, except Alexander himself. Best known for the role of Alexander Hamilton in the Chicago and Broadway productions of Hamilton for nearly eight years, Miguel Cervantes grew up in Dallas where he attended Booker T. Washington followed by Emerson College, where he earned his BFA. ECPA presents “An Intimate Evening with Miguel Cervantes” with guest artist Julie Peterson (York HS 2010; The Boston Conservatory BFA, 2014).
Sonny Acres Pro Rodeo
June 13-14, 20-22
Sonny Acres Farm
SonnyAcres.com
Grab your hats and boots and saddle up for a local experience like no other. Sonny Acres Farm proudly presents their 3rd Annual Pro Rodeo, complete with bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, girls breakaway roping, cowgirls barrel racing, bull riding, and much more. This event is perfect for the whole family and will also include great food, amusement rides, pony rides, and a self-feed petting zoo. Tickets are available on their website, where you can find times and activities for each day.
Rotary GroveFest
June 19-22
Downtown Downers Grove
RotaryGroveFest.com
Downtown Downers Grove will transform into a carnival celebration for four days to kick off the start of the summer. The event is fitting for all ages, and it will include an array of rides, fantastic musical performances, a beer garden, and a car show. All proceeds from the event benefit local, regional, and national charities, including 27 nonprofit organizations that support causes in and around Downers Grove. Presale tickets are on sale now.
Photo credit: DuPage Children’s Museum
Mess Fest
June 21, 9 AM-2 PM
DuPage Children’s Museum
DupageChildrens.org
DuPage Children’s Museum knows that kids can—and love to—be messy. That’s why they’ve dedicated an entire event to embracing the mess and letting kids be kids without any of the consequences. Visitors can enjoy a mud kitchen, shaving cream block building, and all kinds of slime, along with entry to the museum (after a trip to the wash station, of course). Participants should bring a change of clothes and shoes and be prepared to get messy!
Barks & Brews
June 26, 5:30 PM-8 PM
Oak Brook Park District
OBParks.org
In the midst of family fun this summer, don’t forget to include your furry friends in some of the activities. Barks & Brews, hosted by the Oak Brook Park District, is the perfect opportunity to give your dogs a paw-some play date. Pups will enjoy fun activities like peanut butter eating and best trick contests, prizes, and even pup-trivia. Attendees who bring three items to donate to their annual pet drive will be entered into a raffle to win prizes. Registration is required, and dogs must be kept on a leash for the entirety of the event.
