New Lenox to celebrate 75th birthday with weekend fest
New Lenox is celebrating its 75th anniversary this weekend with an event featuring the bands Ides of March and Starship as well as helicopter rides and the start of a 25-year hunt for a time capsule.
The three-day event, which is free, will be held at the Village Commons. It kicks off from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday with a concert by Joey Kar.
“It’s been 75 great years as an incorporated village and we want to celebrate,” said Beth Alderson, the village’s special events coordinator. “We love doing this kind of thing for our residents.”
In 1945, several community leaders gathered to work toward incorporating the village. After a communitywide vote in 1946, the state certified the village was incorporated on Oct. 4, 1946.
In the 1950 census, New Lenox had 1,235 residents. Today, some 26,926 residents call New Lenox home, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“No matter how big we get, we always try to keep a small town feel,” Mayor Tim Baldermann said.
To celebrate New Lenox’s 75th anniversary, Baldermann said, a time capsule will be buried at an undisclosed location. Each year on Oct. 4 a clue will be released about the capsule’s location, with the final clue being revealed at the village’s 100th anniversary celebration.
Baldermann said he made arrangements to ensure the clues will be revealed each year and is keeping the location of the time capsule — which will include autographed posters from bands featured in the village’s annual Triple Play concert series — top secret. The items in the capsule will be awarded to the person who finds it. If more than one person discovers the location, Baldermann suggested a drawing could be held for the contents of the time capsule.
The village also is releasing a limited edition book that details the village’s 75 year history. The book, which was put together by Alderson and other village staff and will sell for $20, will be available for purchase at the celebration. Other 75th anniversary memorabilia including teddy bears, puzzles, train whistles and beer mugs, will be available for purchase.
Baldermann also said helicopter rides would be available Saturday for $50, with proceeds benefiting Wreaths Across America, though details were still being worked out.
“They’ll buzz you around the village and you can have that bird’s eye view,” Baldermann said.
Wreaths Across America places wreaths on the graves of fallen soldiers in December at sites such as the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.
Saturday’s events also will feature a carnival with kid-sized rides and performances by The Ides of March with Jim Peterik at 4:30 p.m. and STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas at 6:30. Both concerts are free. A fireworks show will follow the STARSHIP concert. The festivities run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday.
On Sunday, the celebration is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature throwback events such as potato sack races and a pie-eating contests. Sign up sheets for the contests will be available at the event on Sunday. The Friends of New Lenox Parks will also host their annual Empty Bowls fundraiser and VFW Post 9545 will host a Bingo tent. A classic car show also is scheduled.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the event. Parking is available behind Village Hall and other locations in the Village Commons. On Saturday, a shuttle bus will run to the Route 30 Metra Station to the commons from 4 p.m. until the event ends at 9 p.m.