Posted on: February 27, 2019
The Glen Ellyn Park District is excited to unveil its special event line-up for the spring and summer which includes new events such as Thirsty Thursday on the Deck and Drop-in Yoga at Sunset Park, along with annual favorites like Touch-A-Truck and the Freedom Four™ 4-Mile Run.
FREE Earth Day Fair
April 28 from 1pm-4pm
Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn
Get a dose of nature and learn ways that you can help create a greener Glen Ellyn. New this year, the event is being offered in partnership with SCARCE and includes: environmental groups, sustainable shopping, guided tours, eco-info sessions, kids’ activities, food trucks, canoe rentals, and live music.
FREE Touch-A-Truck
May 4 from 10am-12pm
Maryknoll Park, 845 Pershing Road, Glen Ellyn, IL
Touch-A-Truck offers hundreds of truck-loving tots and their families the opportunity to sit in, touch, discover, and safely explore their favorite big trucks and things on wheels. Mini truck aficionados will love the experience of pressing buttons, honking horns, climbing into different vehicles, and meeting the men and women who drive them! This is a free event – no tickets or registration required. Learn more at www.gepark.org/touch-a-truck.
- Horn-free hour from 11:30am-12pm
- Steamroller demo – bring an aluminum can to be crushed!
- Raffles and giveaways (while supplies last)
FREE Glen Ellyn Bike Rodeo
May 5 from 12pm-2pm
Duane/Lorraine Parking Lot, just west of the Glen Ellyn Public Library
Save the date for this FREE Bike Rodeo on Sunday, May 5 featuring on-the-spot bike checks, a bike decorating station, and BMX demonstrations! Kids join the Glen Ellyn Park District, Glen Ellyn Police Department, Northwestern Medicine, The Bike Hub and the Glen Ellyn Public Library to learn important rules of the road and to test their knowledge on a miniature riding course. Participants must bring their own bike and wear a properly-fitted helmet to participate on the riding course. www.gepark.org.
FREE Teen Splash Bash
June 7 from 8pm-10pm
Kids entering 6th, 7th, and 8th grade are invited to join us for a FREE pool party complete with a live DJ and games. Students simply present their school ID to be admitted. Bring some extra cash because the Sunset Pool concession stand will be open late! Incoming 6th graders and students whose school does not provide an ID must have a parent check them in.
NEW Drop-in Yoga at Sunset Park
Wednesdays from June 12, 2019 – August 28, 2019
Join us on Wednesday mornings for yoga in the park drop-ins, available in 1-hour (9am-10am) and 30-minute express (10:15am-10:45am) sessions. We will practice a Vinyasa style of yoga that is characterized by stringing poses together so that you move from one to another, seamlessly, using breath. Increase your muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, and reduce some stress. Yoga mats will be provided, or you can bring your own. Payment will be accepted at the Sunset Pool admission window.
Lake Ellyn Cardboard Regatta & Food Truck Picnic in the Park
June 29 from 10am to ~3pm
Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn
Gather your crew and start brainstorming your ship’s design – the Glen Ellyn Park District begins taking registrations for this year’s races on Sunday, March 17 at 10:00pm. Divisions are available for family, adult, and youth. Just $50 per boat to compete; free to spectate. Whether you are building a boat or just out to watch the fun, this family-friendly community event is a popular Glen Ellyn tradition. The Lake Ellyn Cardboard Regatta will take place on Saturday, June 29, 2019. The event opens at 10am, with races beginning at noon. Food trucks, arranged by the Glen Ellyn Fourth of July Committee, will open at 11am. www.gepark.org/regatta.
Freedom Four™ 4-Mile Run
July 4 at 7:30am
Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn
Start your 4th of July running for a good cause at the Freedom Four™ 4-Mile Run! Proceeds help benefit the Glen Ellyn Park District Scholarship Fund. Register by June 27th at www.FreedomFourRun.com to receive the $25 “Early Bird” rate and guarantee your race t-shirt, or from June 28th to July 4th at the $30 regular rate. The Freedom Four™ will be held at Lake Ellyn Park with the run beginning promptly at 7:30am. This family-friendly event is open to runners, joggers, and walkers ages 5+ with awards presented to the top two male and female finishers in each age division. www.freedomfourrun.com
Afternoon Festivities
July 4 from 1pm-4pm
Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn
Bring your family for a couple of hours of fun after the Fourth of July Parade and enjoy free live music. With a $3 wristband – which helps support the Glen Ellyn Park District Scholarship Fund – kids can enjoy all the action including face painting, penny carnival games (with tickets redeemable for prizes), moonwalks and an inflatable obstacle course. Concessions will be available for purchase. www.gepark.org/afternoon-fest
FREE Family Fun Night
July 17 from 5:30pm-7:30pm
Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn
Don’t miss this family-friendly, fun-filled, FREE evening of music and entertainment, exciting rides and bounce houses, summer craft projects, face painting, and more at Lake Ellyn Park! Join us for this Glen Ellyn tradition and make some summer memories. Pack a picnic or enjoy refreshments available for purchase at this event. www.gepark.org.
NEW Thirsty Thursday on the Deck
July 25 from 6:30pm-9pm
Lake Ellyn Boathouse, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn
Who’s thirsty? Grab a group of friends and head down to Lake Ellyn for a relaxing evening on the Boathouse patio and deck. Craft beer and wine will be for sale by Glen Ellyn’s own, The Beer Cellar. Enjoy a beverage, mix and mingle, and we’ll provide the live entertainment and snacks to cap-off a perfect night. Pre-registration will be available online beginning March 17 at 10:00pm. Tickets at the door will be cash-only, if available. www.gepark.org.
FREE Jazz in the Park
The Glen Ellyn Jazz Ensemble will play a mix of your favorite Big Band tunes at FREE concerts in June, July & August. Fun for all ages, “Jazz in the Park” brings a touch of Ravinia to Glen Ellyn. Be sure to pack a blanket, lawn chairs and picnic dinner. All concerts take place from 7pm-9pm. www.gepark.org/jazz
- June 19 at Maryknoll Park (845 Pershing Avenue, Glen Ellyn)
- July 24 at Newton Park (707 Fairview Avenue, Glen Ellyn)
- August 21 at Lake Ellyn Park (645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn)
FREE Back to School Bash
August 9 from 8pm-10pm
One last celebration at the Sunset Pool before school starts! Kids in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade are invited to join us for a FREE pool party complete with a live DJ and games. Students simply present their school ID to be admitted. Don’t forget to bring some extra cash – the concession stand will be open late! 6th graders and students whose school does not provide an ID must have a parent check them in.