Autumn In The Park Festival 2023 Free Entry / Free Parking 8901 W. 123rd St. ~ On The Village Green

Friday, September 15, 2023 / 6:00 - 11:00pm

Saturday, September 16, 2023 / Parade kicks off at 11:00 am

Festival 11:30 am to 11:00 pm

Be sure to check back periodically for updates on our 2023 Autumn in the Park Festival!

Schedule

Friday, September 15, 2023

6:00 pm - Grounds Open
6:00 to 10:30 pm - Food Vendors, Beer, Wine and Spirits
7:30 to 10:30 pm - Musical Entertainment -Hairbangers Ball - Main Stage
11:00 pm - Grounds Close

Saturday, September 16, 2023

11:00 am - Parade Begins
11:30 am - Grounds Open
Noon to 12:30 pm - TBA - Kids area
TBA pm - House of Music performances - Main Stage
2:15 to 3:00 pm - TBA - Kids Area
Noon to 10:00 - College Football - On the big screen - Gazebo Sports Cave
Noon to 10:30 pm - Food Vendors, Beer, Wine and Spirits
Noon to 3:30 pm - Petting Farm - hosted by The Center of Palos Park
Noon to 5:00 pm - Face Painting, Balloons, Bouncy Houses
Noon to 5:00 pm - Kids Crafts (McCord Gallery, Palos Park Library, Palos Fine Arts)
Noon to 7:00 pm - Artisan Vendors
2:30 pm - BBQ tasting coins go on sale - 4 for $8 while supplies last
3:00 to 6:00 pm - Musical Entertainment - Five Guys Named Moe - Main Stage
4:30 pm - BBQ Rib - Public Tasting
7:30 to 10:30 pm - Musical Entertainment - Mike and Joe - Main Stage
11:00 pm - Grounds Close

The Parade

Beginning at 11 am, the parade kicks off with bands, floats, civic groups, fire and police vehicles, horses, dogs, walkers, riders and community for this wonderful tradition. The parade kicks off at 82^nd Avenue on 123^rd Street in Palos Park and travels westbound to 90^th Avenue ending near the festival grounds.

2023 Parade application can be found here

Free Shuttle Bus and Parking

Free Festival parking can be located at:

Palos Park Presbyterian Church - 12312 S. 88th Avenue

The Village Courtyard - 8301 W 123rd Street

Metra Parking lot - 12100-12114 South 82nd Avenue

Trolly/Shuttle Bus Service - Pick up/Drop Off Locations: Palos Park Metra Lot, Front of Recreation Center, and Village Courtyard.

Shuttle Hours: Friday 6:30 - 11:00 pm, Saturday Noon - 11:00 pm

Amateur BBQ Competition - Chicken and Ribs

On Saturday, September 17th you have the opportunity to put you BBQ skills to the test in this Amateur BBQ Rib and Chicken Cook-off Competition. Contestant will prepare and cook 10 Rib Slabs (provided) and chicken (cooks bring their own) on-site. Grilling beings at 9:00 am, turn-in for judging at 3:30 pm for chicken and 4:30 pm for ribs. At 4:31 pm the grilling area is open for public tasting - where you can also win the People’s Choice Award.

Interested in Becoming a Contestant?

Application, rules, procedures and waiver forms can be viewed in the "Contestant Application" found below
Completed application & fee must be received no later than September 8, 2023

Entrance Fee includes both chicken and ribs.

Now thru Friday, August 25, 2023 - $100.00
Late entry begins Monday, August 28th thru Friday, September 8th - $115.00

BBQ Schedule
7:30 - 9:00 am - BBQ contestant set up, and inspection of contestant's chicken
9:30 am - Cooks meeting - Rib meat distributed promptly following cooks meeting.
3:30 pm - Chicken turn in for judging
4:30 pm - Rib turn in for judging
4:31 pm - Public tasting begins
6:30 pm - BBQ Awards announced in main tent

2023 Amateur Bar-B-Que Cook-off Application Packet

2023 BBQ Judging Application

Kids Area and Activities

Saturday, September 16, 2023

Noon to 12:30 pm - TBD

Noon to 3:30 pm - The Center of Palos Park Petting Zoo

Noon to 5:00 pm - Bounce Houses, Airbrush tattoos, Balloon Animals

Noon to 5:00 pm - Children's Crafts (McCord Gallery, Palos Park Library and Palos Fine Arts)

2:15 to 3:00 pm - TBA

Playground

Live Music

Friday, September 15, 2023

Hairbangers Ball on the Main Stage

Saturday, September 16,2023

Five Guys Named Moe - on the Main Stage

Mike and Joe on the Main Stage

Food Vendors

Artisans

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Flow Technics Inc.

G Cooper Oil Company

Core and Main

The Weglarz Family

Nicor gas

IN KIND

Sponsorship Opportunities

We are asking for your support of this superb community event. Past sponsors received a variety of publicity using their name and/or logo viewed by thousands who visit the Village website, connect with social media, and local newspapers. Find out what different Autumn In the Park sponsor opportunities exist!

Sponsorship Application Form