New Lenox's 'Last Call Before Fall' To Send Off Summer With Soups, Brews, Kids Fun

NEW LENOX, IL — New Lenox's Last Call Before Fall returns Sept. 27, a chance to send off summer with live music and family fun.

The event set for Sept. 27 from 1 to 5 p.m. is held at the New Lenox Commons, 101 Veterans Pkwy. Admission is free, with beers from area craft breweries available for purchase.

Attractions for kids will include bounce houses, face painting, pumpkin decorating, and more. A fall market has been added to this year's event, with a variety of crafters and vendors throughout the Commons.

Friends of the New Lenox Parks will also host their annual Empty Bowls fundraiser to help support the New Lenox Township Food Pantry. Purchase a hand-painted bowl and receive unlimited soup tastings from local restaurants. Tickets are required, and $20 per person. They can be purchased online in advance—please note there is a $1 surcharge for credit/debit payments—or at the event for $20 if paying by cash.

Restaurants participating and their featured soups include:

• Portillo's: Chili
• Berkots New Lenox: Lobster bisque
• North & Maple: Cream of chicken
• Gina's Teardrop Cafe: Lemon rice
• Aurelio's Frankfort: Minestrone
• JBD White Horse Inn: Beef vegetable and barley
• Gatto's: Pasta e Fagioli
• Sanctuary Golf Course: Chili
• United Methodist Church: Broccoli cheddar
• Arrowhead Ales: Cream of chicken and rice
• Hog Wild New Lenox: Chili

Beer will also be available from local breweries Nik & Ivy, Hickory Creek Brewing and Arrowhead Ales. Beers are $6 each.

Live music scheduled to take the stage includes:

• 1 to 2:30 p.m.: The Sumthins
• 3 to 5 p.m.: Group Therapy

A portion of Veterans Parkway will be closed during this event to accommodate the event activities. Limited parking will be available on the street.

Parking is available in the south lot of the Village Hall as well as in the lots behind Old Plank Trail Community Bank and Trinity Services. The New Lenox Public Library is open during this event. Please help us to treat our neighbor with respect by leaving their parking lot open for library patrons.

Accessible parking is available in the New Lenox Police Department's administrative parking lot, located to the southeast of the New Lenox Police Department.