Street Dance has been taking place for approximately 30 years and remains Park District of Franklin Park’s most popular summer event.
Catherine Saponieri, marketing and communications manager for the Park District of Franklin Park, said more than 1,500 people attended this year’s Street Dance.
“Last year it was lower compared to this year because last year we did have to cut the event short due to weather so this year was a much bigger turnout,” she said.
According to Saponieri, Street Dance’s popularity stems from all of the activities offered.
“We have live music, food vendors, free children’s activities and more that are all down Franklin Avenue and right outside the Community Center. That’s just a great way that people are able to come out and enjoy their Friday night,” she said.
Saponieri added that Street Dance, which took place on July 12, attracted people not only from Franklin Park but also surrounding communities such as Elmwood Park, Northlake, Melrose Park and River Grove.
“It’s a great way to get the community out to spend some time with family, friends and their neighbors,” she said.
Saponieri noted that children’s activities included balloon artists, bouncy houses, face painting and inflatable miniature golf.
“Street Dance (is) designed for all ages,” she said.
Saponieri added that the only cost was purchasing from food vendors, which included Franklin Park’s Franklin Avenue Foods, Hello Boba, Mike O’Donnell’s Irish Pub and Serna’s Grill; Kona Ice from Schaumburg and Sama from River Grove.
“(It was) a nice range of food options from kids with Kona Ice all the way up to O’Donnell’s selling drinks for our older folks,” she said.
Live music at Street Dance was performed by The Jolly Ringwalds, which is billed as the No. 1 female-fronted 1980s band in the Midwest, and 90’s Pop Nation, which describes itself as performing all the biggest pop hits, one-hit wonders, sing-alongs and dance hits from the 1990s.
“Both bands were a great hit and covered a wide range of ages. A lot of people had fun,” said Saponieri about the performers who both made their Street Dance debuts this year.
According to Saponieri, Street Dance began as a way to highlight what the area has to offer.
“It was just something to bring the community out to Franklin Avenue. Being in downtown Franklin Park, we wanted to have an event that showcased the heart of Franklin Park and Street Dance was a great way to do that,” she said.
Saponieri noted that something new for 2024’s Street Dance was a chance to showcase the event’s sponsors, which included Franklin Park’s Greater Family Health, Permidt Engineering Ltd. and Sloan Valve Co. along with Busey Bank and Forest Security Inc. from River Grove.
She added that not charging a fee for attendance or activities at Street Dance fosters the community feel of the event.
Other outdoor events presented by Park District of Franklin Park include the weekly Summer Concert Series, which began on June 4 and continues at 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 6 at the North Park baseball fields.
The Caught Off Guards – which is described as having members who have a mutual love of soulful rock, jazz and rhythm and blues – performs July 23 and Billy Elton, a band celebrating the music of Billy Joel and Elton John, plays Aug. 6 after its July 9 concert had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather.
“It’s not Street Dance but you’ve still got the music. You’ve got food there. The park is right there as well,” Saponieri said.
Dan LoCascio, director of parks and recreation, leads Park District of Franklin Park, which stated in its Summer 2024 brochure that approximately 4,993 youth; 11,138 adults and 2,314 senior participants are served.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.
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