Thornton Township Presents
It’s 17th Annual TASTE of Thornton Township Celebration
Thornton Township will hosts its 17th Annual Taste of Thornton Township Celebration, in a new location on the campus of South Suburban College, 15800 S. State St. in South Holland. Opening night features the second annual Taste of Thornton Township Tourney at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24.
Police and teenagers from various different communities will team up together playing on the same team for the pride of their town or village and focusing on working with each other. Lansing Police Department and teens won the tournament last year. Typically, communities have police officers and kids playing against each other in a basketball tournament; however, Thornton Township officials decided the alternative made more sense.
“Last year was an incredible success and people really understood that kids and police officers should be playing together instead of opposite team,” said Frank M. Zuccarelli, Thornton Township supervisor. “We felt like it brought the community together even more and those are the kinds of programs that we support in Thornton Township. This year we are looking to make it even bigger.”
The five-on-five basketball tournament, which will once again take place at South Suburban College, is an extension of the Faith, Dignity and Respect Initiative. The program’ goal is helping communities along with police officers and teenagers working together.
“When teenagers are able to see police officers out of the uniform and have meaningful interactions with them that carry a lot of weight when they eventually see them in uniform,” said Ernst Lamothe Jr. Thornton Township communication manager, who oversees the basketball tournament. “Every police officer we talked with last year saw the tournament as an important way to interact and reach teenagers and that gave us the feedback we needed to have the tournament again. They really saw it as a unifying event. ”
Then on Saturday, Aug. 25, the Taste of Thornton Township event takes places where more than 1,500 people attend. The headliner will be Lakeside featuring Mark Woods Jr. and some of the opening acts include our very own Trysh Grandberry, who was a contestant on America Got Talent, the Chicago Boyz Acrobats, Visions of Santana and Past Life.
“The Taste is one of our largest events and brings people throughout Thornton Township in one place to enjoy great live music, food and family entertainment,” said Frank M. Zuccarelli, Thornton Township supervisor.
In addition to a variety of food vendors and a large selection of crafts, the township will be giving away free book bags with school supplies, free back to school haircuts for kids, a petting zoo and Bingo. An antique Classic Car show sponsored by Napleton River Oaks Car Dealership will take place that day from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
“This event has something for everyone of all ages,” said Tui M. Muse, chairman of the taste. “We continue to make the Taste one of the largest and best events in the southland. I think people will be excited about all the new features we have brought in this year.”
A variety of food will be offered including Ribs, hot dogs, hamburgers, catfish, jerk chicken, turkey legs, Italian sausage and beef, nachos, cheesecake, snow cones, Italian ice, specialty teas, and more said Delia Medina, event planner for Thornton Township.
“This event is for the community to come together and enjoy food, entertainment, family and friends,” said Joyce Washington, Thornton Township trustee. We appreciate our great community. This year’s Taste of Thornton Township will have a variety of entertainment for attendees from as far as Chicago, Indiana, and local residents.”
A variety of food will be offered including Ribs, hot dogs, hamburgers, catfish, jerk chicken, turkey legs, Italian sausage and beef, nachos, cheesecake, snow cones, Italian ice, specialty teas and much more.
“We have been hosting this Taste for 17 years and it will be even larger, and more,” said Delia Medina, event planner for Thornton Township. “There are a lot of free activities for the kids – face painting, carnival rides, games, back to school haircuts, and book bags with school supplies.”