Local Community Events In Chicago That Will Add Some Fun To Your Summer!

Many seniors may have accepted that they can’t get out as much as they used to, especially if they have trouble walking or have to use a wheelchair. Everyone, though, benefits from an occasional break with routine.

If your senior loved one needs special transportation assistance, arrangements can seem well worth the effort when you see the joy in your loved one’s face during an outing, or when they recall the event during the weeks and months that follow.For some people, a trip to the park with it’s fresh air and natural beauty, can be a refreshing experience that enlivens them for days. Other people may find that kind of pleasure in a concert or theatrical presentation. You can even combine the two with concerts in the park this summer. Take your loved one on a nostalgic trip through elaborate model train displays, or treat them to a live, in-person performance of the popular radio show, A Prairie Home Companion. There are dozens of local events in Chicago and the surrounding communities that provide options of all varieties.

Doubling The Fun

Some seniors can only handle one thing at a time, but others would enjoy sharing an activity. Grandparents often love to see their grandchildren, but struggle with not being able to play their games or keep up with their energy. Watching a live show together may be an ideal alternative. All of the following events are suitable for sharing with grandchildren as well.

A Sampling of Options This Summer

TEMPEL LIPIZZAN STALLIONS – Wadsworth, Illinois

June through September – Various Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Witness artistry and history come to life as the Tempel Lipizzan stallions enchant audiences with their power, intelligence and grace. From the play of newborn foals to the leaps of athletic stallions, the Tempel Lipizzans are an experience for the entire family. This unique performance set to music has become a Lake County favorite. Come early and enjoy a lunch or dinner in the café.

MODEL RAILROAD GARDEN: LANDMARKS OF AMERICA

May through October. Glencoe, IL – Chicago Botanic Garden
The 7,500-square-foot “Model Railroad Garden: Landmarks of America” exhibition at the Chicago Botanic Garden features trains running on 1,600 feet of track, for train and garden enthusiasts to enjoy the delightful sights and sounds of the miniature trains traversing high and low through tunnels, across bridges and around buildings.

SOULFEED SMOOTH JAZZ FESTIVAL

June 6 – Aurora – RiverEdge Park

Seventh Annual Smooth Jazz Festival featuring:

• Walter Beasley (leading alto and soprano saxophonist and prominent vocalist)
• Mambo Express (Afro Cuban Band specializing in Latin based jazz and the sounds from the 40s and 50s)
• Hiroshima (Vibrant, eclectic & truly original, the multi-GRAMMY nominated Hiroshima creates an intoxicating mix of traditional Japanese folk music & instruments interwoven with Jazz, R&B, Salsa & more)
• Emcee: Denise Jordan Walker (known as the “Oprah of Jazz”)