Palos Hills Friendship Fest 2025, Thursday Through Sunday: Know Before You Go

PALOS HILLS, IL — Get friendly this weekend at Palos Hills Friendship Fest 2025. Presented by the Palos Hills Resource and Recreation Department, the festival runs four fabulous days from July 10 through July 13 at the Moraine Valley Community College fest grounds at 107th Street and 88th Avenue. Admission and parking are free.

Advanced purchase of mega passes is available only at the Palos Hills Community Center, 8455 W. 103rd St., and will be available for $60 before noon Thursday. Fest goers who purchased advance tickets will receive a paper that can be turned in at the fest to receive a wristband.

To help cut down on wait time to claim your advance-purchased wristband at the will-call window, fest goers can come to the Palos Hills Community Center from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, to turn in their papers and claim their wristband. Mega passes, good for all four days of the Friendship Fest, can also be purchased for $70 at the fest.

Day passes can be purchased for $40 during the fest, good for rides from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday; 6 to 11:30 p.m. Friday; and noon to 5 p.m. and 5 p.m. to close (a second day pass must be purchased if you plan to spend the evening) Saturday and Sunday. All passes must be purchased in person at the rec center or during the fest.

Palos Hills Friendship Fest offers wholesome family entertainment, including a classic car show, petting zoo, pony rides, arts and craft vendors, big rides and more. New this year is a foam party for kids from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, so bring a change of clothes. The fest culminates with a giant fireworks display at dusk on Sunday, July 13.

Double K Productions invites classic car owners to show off their rides, Sunday, July 13. Registration is $25 from 9 a.m. to noon. The show runs until 4 p.m. Awards will be given for Best Engine, Best Paint, Best GM, Best Chevy, Best Ford/Lincoln/Mercury and Best In Show.

Food vendors for 2025 feature popular local restaurants including Highlanders’ Grill, Barone’s, Durbin’s-Palos Hills, Genoa Italian, Frozen Dreamz, Bobolicious, Paradise Sweets and Eats, Boba Heaven, and Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Fest goers will also find an assortment of draft and craft beers and wine in the beer garden, along with live music all four days of the fest. For your beer drinking enjoyment, Mayor Jerry Bennett has helped the recreation department line up some well known, Chicago area bands, including Eagles tribute band One Of These Nights (Thursday), The Chicago Experience (Chicago tribute) and Infinity (Friday), The Ron Burgundy’s (80’s music) and Beatles tribute band American English (Saturday), and Ambidextrous (Sunday).

Classic metal rock tribute band Anthem will play in the fireworks from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday, July 13. Anthem has been tearing up the burbs with their classic metal rock experience, including such hits by Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Bon Jovi and more. The fireworks blast at dusk.

Finally, the recreation department and Palos Hills Police Department will be enforcing a safety plan including:

• No one under age 21 will be admitted with a backpack
• No outside alcohol will be allowed on festival grounds
• No pets will be allowed into the festival. (Service animals are welcome with proof of certification)
• No coolers
• No weapons of any kind, including pocket knives.
• Palos Hills police have the right to refuse admission or ask people to leave at any time.

Check out the official 2025 Palos Hills Fun Fest schedule: