Palos Park Recreation and Parks Department

09/10/2026

☕🎶 Music & Muffins is back!

Curious about Music Together but not sure if it's the right fit for your little one? Music & Muffins is the perfect low-pressure way to find out. Bring your child for a free sample class, enjoy a muffin, and see firsthand what makes our Music Together classes so special.
Join us TOMORROW at the Palos Park Recreation Center.
Register here: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/palospark/activity/search/detail/8210?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true

09/04/2026

⏳ LAST CALL: Spooky ShuffleEarly Bird Pricing Ends Labor Day! ⏳

Don't miss your chance to save on the Palos Park Spooky Shuffle 5K & 10K — early bird registration closes after THIS weekend, so this is your final reminder to lock in the best rate before it's gone.

🎃 Saturday, October 17, 2026 · 9:00 AM 📍Swallow Cliff South Forest Preserve, Palos Park, IL 🏃 5K & 10K — one of the only trail-based races in Cook County

Costumes encouraged. Fall foliage included. Register now before early bird pricing disappears 👇 https://raceroster.com/events/2026/139081/palos-park-spooky-shuffle-2026

09/03/2026

If you've been out on the trails or walking through a parking lot lately and noticed a large insect burst into flight with a flash of bright black-and-yellow wings — and maybe even heard a clicking sound in some brush — you've just met one of Illinois's most dramatic insects, the Carolina Grasshopper, a Palos Park regular this time of year!

The fast facts
📏One of Illinois's largest grasshoppers — females reach 2 inches long with a wingspan up to 4 inches
🎨Master of disguise — their tan-to-brown bodies blend perfectly with dirt paths and pavement when at rest
☀️Sunbathers by nature — they spend mornings basking on sidewalks, parking lots, and dirt paths to warm up before the day's activities
🦋Often mistaken for butterflies — males hover several feet in the air during courtship flights, which looks more like a butterfly than a grasshopper
🥚This time of year matters — females are currently depositing egg pods in undisturbed soil; those eggs will overwinter underground and hatch next May or June
⚡That clicking sound explained: Male Carolina Grasshoppers rapidly snap membranes between their wing veins — like a tiny cap gun — while hovering to attract a mate. The whole display (flight + click + flash of color) happens in under a second.

09/01/2026

Sign your little one up for Tiny Dancers this fall!
This program is a great way to help your child gain confidence and independence, practice following directions in a group setting, and develop their gross motor skills. Dancers will learn learn new steps each week adding onto a routine that will be performed on the last day of class.
Register here: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/palospark/activity/search/detail/8209?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true

08/31/2026

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08/28/2026

🎃👻 Early Bird Registration is closing fast for the Annual Palos Park Spooky Shuffle! 👻🎃

Get ready for one of the area's most scenic and spirited fall races! Registration is open for the Palos Park Spooky Shuffle Trail Race, featuring 5K and 10K distances winding through the beautiful trails of the Cook County Forest Preserves.

⏰ Early Bird pricing ends September 5, so don't wait—register now and save!

Register today and secure your spot before prices increase! Link👉 https://bit.ly/4z5sgGe

08/27/2026

🌲 What a day at Starved Rock! 🌲
Our seniors enjoyed an unforgettable day trip to Starved Rock State Park last week! The group had a delicious lunch at the famous Lodge, then set off on a land and water tour, learning about the park's history while getting up close with the wildlife that calls the Illinois River home. From soaring eagles to bison at Buffalo Rock, and watching the barges in the Lock & Dam, it was a day full of fresh air, fun, and new friendships.

Missed this one? Don't worry — we've got more senior trips coming up this fall!

🔒 Locked Up in History: Old Joliet Prison Tour — October
🛍️ Thrifted Treasures at True North — November

Get all the details and sign up in our Fall Rec Guide, available now!

08/26/2026

NEW THIS FALL: GAME ON! Middle schoolers — this one's for you.

GAME ON! is a monthly after-school pickup game meetup on the Village Green where a different sport is featured each month. No tryouts. No pressure. Just good competition and good company.

Kickball — Monday, Sept 21
Ultimate Frisbee — Monday, Oct 19
Pickleball — Monday, Nov 16

📍 Village Green · 3–5pm · 6th–8th Grade · $5 drop-in fee per meetup

Register at palospark.org or call (708) 671-3760

08/25/2026

🎶 What a way to wrap up summer! 🎶

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Village Green last Thursday for our final concert of the summer with ReTurn2Soul!

A huge thank you to our sponsors, whose support makes this series possible: Republic Bank, Kallemeyn Auto Center, and Chiro One

Check out the full recap here 👉

Palos Park wrapped up its Summer Concert Series with ReTurn2Soul, bringing residents together for an evening of R&B, Motown, pop and jazz.

08/24/2026

🍽️ The Ages 55 & Better Club has returned for the fall — and the September edition is one you won't want to miss!

Join us Monday, September 14th for a special presentation by Kerlin Walsh Law on "6 Essential Documents Everyone Should Have in Place" — information every family needs — with lunch catered by Papa Joe's.

📅 Monday, Sept 14 · 12–2:15pm (Doors open at 11am)
📍 Rec Center Community Room (lower level)

⚠️ Registration deadline is one week before the event — register by Sept 7th to guarantee your meal!

Register at palospark.org, in person at the Rec Center, or call (708) 671-3760