Community Arts Council

The annual Fall Art Stroll has double the pleasure in store for its visitors.

The event, to be held 11 a.m-4 p.m. Sept. 19, will expand to cover not only the 100 block of  N. Schuyler Ave. but also the 100 block of  S. Schuyler Ave. in downtown Kankakee.  Activities also will be held at The Depot.

The expansion was made possible by the partnering of the Community Arts Council of  Kankakee County with the new Kankakee Event Partnership. The result is a record number of more than 70 participants: artists, a wide variety of entertainment, many special attractions and food vendors, including members of the local Farmers Market.

It also will be the first time the  Frank  Lloyd Wright’s prairie-style Harley B. Bradley House on S. Harrison Ave., will be open for tours in conjunction with Stroll festivities. The restored home, recently acquired by Wright in Kankakee for use as a museum and an arts and educational facility, is holding its grand opening that weekend with special activities. Besides tours, a fund-raising event is planned for Sept. 17 and an old-fashioned picnic and ice cream social for Sept. 18.

The dozens of fine arts and crafts vendors are expected to show their wares in colorful tents and booths lining the two-block long area or in buildings such as the Clock Tower or the Majestic complex which will feature a two-story wall gallery of quilts.

Visitors will find a plethora of  paintings, including, oils, pastels and water colors; plus photographs, wheel-thrown pottery, kiln-fired artwork and hand-carved boxes, woodturning designs, custom jewelry, handmade soaps and candles, blown glass, floral arrangements and all types of needlework. A large fall garden designed by Tholen’s Nursery to illustrate artistic outdoor spaces will decorate the street. The nursery also will have plants for sale and offer expert gardening tips.

Demonstrations will include everything from chain saw sculpturing and the carving of carousel horses to the design of fall arrangements and tips for napkin folding and holiday plate garnishes.

Entertainment will be offered in three venues, in the Majestic building, on The Depot grounds and in the street. There will be specialty acts – jugglers Rave and Dave, the Kankakee Fire Tribe and a group that does stunts with hoops;  free line dancing lessons given by the square dance group Boots in Motion and performances by Steve Wunder Garage Band and the Corduroy Hippos, a teen band. Instrumentalists will include acoustical guitarists, a cellist, a harpist, and Suzuki piano students. Singing groups such as the Spirit of Illinois Barbershoppers and the Kankakee Performance Choir will perform along with Kankakee Valley Theater members offering numbers from their coming production of  “The Wizard of Oz.

Another attraction will be the huge used book sale held each year by the Friends of the Kankakee Public Library.

Barn Quilt tours also will be available during the Stroll. The huge wooden quilt squares have been painted and hung on dozens of  barns in the county to highlight its agriculture history. A booth will display an actual quilt square.

Children will be kept as busy as adults. There will be a bounce house near The Depot, a print-making project, face painting, a pumpkin decorating contest and story times provided by staff members of the Kankakee Public Library. Author George Richardson also will be reading his children’s books during the afternoon. 

Visitors should come hungry because there will a delicious variety of food to enjoy. There will be brats, burgers and hotdogs, pork chop sandwiches and loaded baked potatoes, chili, carmel apples, kettle corn and all kinds of seasonal fruits and vegetables, baked goods, jams and jellies. Two local restaurants at the site also will offer full menus. 

Come and celebrate the arts in Kankakee.  Admittance is free and there is plenty of parking. Call 815-933-ARTS or log onto www.communityartscouncil.org for more information.