Special Events
Letters to Santa
Due Date: December 1 by 4:00 pm
Park District Residents Only
Starting November 20, Santa’s mailbox will be displayed at the Founders Community Center. Santa will personally write to each family who writes him a letter, provided that all letters are received by 4:00 pm on Friday, December 1. Santa can only send letters to children who include the following: child’s full name, address, city, zip code and of course, their wish list! Parents, please complete the checklist when sending the letter. Checklists will be available at the main office and on the Park District website. Please address letters to: Santa Claus, 25 Candy Cane Lane, North Pole (c/o Frankfort Park District, 140 Oak Street, Frankfort, IL 60423).
Click here to download the Letters To Santa Checklist 2023
Puzzle Mania – Holiday Edition
Friday, December 1
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Founders Community Center, 140 Oak Street
Division/Age: Family & Friends/All Ages
Division/Age: Kids Only/5 – 13 years
$25 per team
Looking for a fun evening with your family and friends before the holiday season? Put together a team of 4, wear your favorite holiday sweater, and register for Puzzle Mania, a jigsaw puzzle tournament. Teams will race against each other to finish the same puzzle. There will be two divisions: kids only & family/friends. The puzzles will be 300 pieces for the kids and 500 pieces for the family/friends competition. Bring snacks and enjoy an evening working together to solve the holiday themed puzzle. Prizes will be given to the winning teams.
Registration Deadline: November 17 or until filled
Santa Photos & Workshop – FILLED
Saturday, December 9
Session I: 11:30 am – 12:00 pm – FILLED
Session II: 12:00 – 12:30 pm – FILLED
Session III: 12:30 – 1:00 pm – FILLED
Founders Community Center, 140 Oak Street
All Ages
$10/NR $15 per child
Santa is making a special appearance at the Founders Community Center this holiday season. There will be crafts, holiday themed games, cookie decorating, and a chance to visit with Santa. Remember to bring your cameras. There are three time slots available, please specify the time you would like, at the time of registration.
Registration Deadline: December 4 or until filled
Sponsored by:
Paws With Claus
Saturday, December 9
1:15 – 1:45 pm
Founders Community Center, 140 Oak Street
All Ages
$2 per pet family
Bring your friendly family pet and your camera for a holiday photo opportunity with Santa Claus. All pets MUST be on a leash. Please bring a pet item to be donated to Cache Creek Animal Rescue.
No registration required.
Sponsored by:
The Polar Express Storytime Train – FILLED
Sunday, December 10
# 1 Time: Train departs at 9:30 am sharp – FILLED
# 2 Time: Train departs at 11:20 am sharp – FILLED
Hickory Creek Metra Station
9430 Hickory Creek Drive, Mokena
All Ages
$20 Frankfort Park District Residents Only
$25 Non-Residents (if tickets are still available after resident registration)
ALL ABOARD…The Frankfort Park District would like to invite children and their parents to take this special train ride to the “North Pole”. On the way to the “North Pole,” Santa’s elves will be busy making balloon animals while you enjoy listening to the “Polar Express” story. When we reach the “North Pole”, we will find Santa Claus and bring him back with us on the train to the Hickory Creek Metra Station. Enjoy holiday cookies and music on our way home. A parent or guardian must accompany all the children. Due to the popularity of this event, a maximum of six tickets per household are available to purchase at the time of registration.
Frankfort Park District Boundary Resident Only Lottery Registration
Frankfort Park District Boundary Resident Only Lottery Registration Special Registration forms will be accepted at the Founders Community Center office from November 1 – 8. All forms are due by November 8 at 4:00 pm. Forms will be available on our website beginning November 1. All forms will be processed on November 9 and families will be notified. Tickets will be available for pick-up at the main office.
Click Here to download the FILLABLE registration form.
New Year’s Countdown
Sunday, December 31
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Founders Community Center, 140 Oak Street
4 – 10 years
$9/NR $14
Kids, get ready to countdown to 2024!!! Celebrate New Year’s Eve with dancing, party games, crafts, and ice cream. There will be a “Countdown to 2024” balloon drop at noon to celebrate the New Year!
Registration Deadline: December 26 or until filled
Fairy Tale Ball
Friday, February 2 OR
Saturday, February 3
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Founders Community Center Gym, 140 Oak Street, Frankfort
All Ages
$15/NR $20 per person
We cordially invite you to join us for an enchanting evening at our Fairy Tale Ball. Dads, come and dance the night away with your little one, creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime. We will be providing light refreshments for your enjoyment, accompanied by the delightful entertainment of a live DJ. To capture the beauty of your evening together, a professional photographer will be available to take formal pictures for an additional fee. We kindly request that you register early, as this event tends to reach full capacity rapidly. Please note that pre-registration is required, and no tickets will be available for purchase at the door.
Registration Deadline: January 29 or until filled
Senior Valentine Luncheon
Friday, February 9
12:00 – 2:00 pm
Founders Community Center, 140 Oak Street, Frankfort
55 years & older
$5
Cupid is calling and he is ready to start Valentine’s Day with you! Come enjoy live entertainment, catered lunch, and dessert. You won’t want to miss this special day! Remember to wear something red along with your dancing shoes.
Registration Deadline: February 5
Sponsored by:
Puzzle Mania
Friday, February 16
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Founders Community Center, 140 Oak Street, Frankfort
All Ages
$25 per team
Looking for a fun evening with your family and friends? Put together a team of 4 and register for Puzzle Mania, a jigsaw puzzle tournament. Teams will race against each other to finish the same puzzle. There will be two divisions: kids only & family/friends. The puzzles will be 300 pieces for the kids and 500 pieces for the family/friends competition. Bring snacks and enjoy an evening working together to solve the puzzle. Prizes will be given to the winning teams.
Registration Deadline: February 9 or until filled
Spring Craft Show
Saturday, March 2
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Founders Community Center, 140 Oak Street
Easter decorations, note cards / tags, doll clothes, blankets, hair accessories, handmade candles, scarves, ceramics, handmade jewelry, Tastefully Simple, Avon, Origami Owl, Tupperware, Mary Kay, and much more!
Click here to download the FILLABLE Spring Craft Show Application
Donuts With The Bunny
Saturday, March 23
10:00 – 10:45 am
10:45 – 11:30 am
11:30 am – 12:15 pm
Founders Community Center, 140 Oak Street, Frankfort
All Ages
$9/NR $14 per child
Join Peter Cottontail for some crafts, holiday games, donuts, an egg hunt, and a special photo opportunity with the Bunny! Remember to bring your cameras and your Easter baskets.
Registration Deadline: March 15 or until filled
Sponsored by:
Super Dog Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 23
1:30 pm (approx.)
Bark Park at Commissioners Park, 80th Ave. & Sauk Trail, northwest corner of Commissioners Park
FREE
Egg hunting has gone to the dogs! Dash around the Bark Park at Commissioners Park with your dog collecting treat-filled eggs and help your dog sniff out the special egg to win a prize. After the hunt, visit our dog-friendly vendors and get your photo with Peter Cottontail. Families and all friendly dogs are welcome at this free, on-leash event. An adult should accompany dog owners under the age of 16.
The gate will open at 1:20 pm. Hunt will start at approximately 1:30 pm.
- Weather Location: Founders Community Center
Sponsored by:
Annual Family Fun Fly
Tuesday, March 26
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Fort Frankfort at Commissioners Park
All Ages
FREE
Grab your kites and join us as we celebrate “Flying for Kids Month”, a statewide kite fly to promote park districts, recreation agencies, and the Park District Youth License Plate. Bring your own kite or borrow one from the Park District to fly. This event is FREE and open to the public!
- Rain/Weather Date: Saturday, April 20 @ Main Park 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Bunny Home Visit
Friday, March 29
Session I: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Session II: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: Your House
All Ages
$30 (Fee includes outdoor home visit with the Bunny and gift for one child)
$7 for each additional child in household (Online Code: BUNNY2024)
Watch your child’s eyes light up as they receive a personal visit from the Bunny at your house. The Bunny will hop on over for an outdoor photo and will bring your child a special treat. You will receive a phone call a day before the visit with an approximate arrival time. Be sure to have your camera ready for the bunny’s arrival. Bunny will spend approximately 10 minutes or less at each location. Open to Frankfort Park District residents only.
Kids Garage Sale
Saturday, April 20
11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Main Park North Parking Lot
5 – 14 years old (sellers)
$10 per space (includes table & advertising)
Kids, clean out your closets, your toy box, and under those beds. Sell your unwanted or no longer-needed toys, games, books, and other items, and make a few extra dollars! Each child will have one parking space to sell. All kids must be supervised by a parent or guardian. A detailed letter with more information will be sent to the sellers. The garage sale is open to the public.
Registration Deadline: April 12 or until filled
- Rain/Weather location will be Founders Community Center
Celebrating Earth Day
Saturday, April 20
12:00 – 2:00 pm
Main Park
Families
FREE
Come out to Main Park for an afternoon of Earth Day fun! There will be kid-friendly games, learning activities for children, crafts, giveaways, and more!
- Rain/Weather location will be Founders Community Center
Senior Sock Hop New!
Wednesday, May 7
5:00 – 7:00 pm
Founders Community Center, 140 Oak Street, Frankfort
55 years & older
$20
Come join us as we travel back in time to the golden days of dancing and listening to Rock-N-Roll! We have planned a fantastic evening for you, complete with a delicious catered dinner, tasty dessert, and live entertainment. Don’t forget to bring your poodle skirts and saddle shoes for an extra touch of nostalgia!
Registration Deadline: April 22
Entertainment Sponsored by:
Bowling With Mom
Friday, May 10
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Thunderbowl, 18700 Old LaGrange Road, Mokena
All Ages
$25/NR $30/person
Hey moms, looking for a fun evening out with your little ones? Join us at Thunderbowl in Mokena for two games of bowling and dinner. This is a great opportunity to have some fun spending time together with a little competition mixed in. Pizza, pop, two games of bowling, shoes, and bowling balls are included in the fee. NO TICKETS will be sold at the door.
Registration Deadline: April 19 or until filled
Frankfort Community Garage Sale
Saturday, August 3
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Frankfort Park District Community
All Ages
$10 per home
Each registered participant’s address will be included on a list of all participating homes. This list will be available at the park office, website, and Facebook the week of the sale. The park district will advertise the sale in local newspapers, online sites, and A-frame signs throughout the community. Each participating home will receive a packet including a garage sale sign, balloons, a map of Frankfort subdivisions, and garage sale selling tips. These packets will be available for pick-up at the Founders Community Center at the time of registration. For Frankfort Park District Residents only & is rain or shine.
Registration Deadline: July 27
2023 Volunteer Opportunities:
Click on the Event name to Sign-up Online for Volunteer Opportunities:
Santa Workshop – Saturday, December 9 / 11:00 am-1:30 pm / Founders Community Center
New Year’s Countdown – Sunday, December 31 / 10:30 am–1:00 pm / Founders Community Center
