Braidwood Illinois Lions Club

06/10/2026

The Braidwood Area Healthy Community Coalition will once again be coordinating our 45th Annual Braidwood Lions Club Summerfest Baby Contest. Registration information and more details can be found on the attached flyer.

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭 ❞𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝟔𝟔❞ 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭❗
𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕖

Registration is now open for our "Little Cruisers of Route 66" Baby Contest! If you have a little one between 0 and 24 months old, be sure to check out the attached flyer and registration form. Online registration begins June 15, and all entries must be received by July 10. www.braidwoodcoalition.org/about-us/events

We're also looking for volunteers to help make Summerfest a success! Opportunities include assisting with the baby contest, 50/50 sales, information table, setup, cleanup, and more. Volunteer shifts are generally just two hours, and we'd love to have your help.

Summerfest is one of our largest fundraising and outreach events of the year. Funds raised through our Summerfest activities help support the Coalition's scholarship program, allowing us to invest directly in local students as they pursue their educational goals. Summerfest also provides an opportunity to connect with community members, share resources, and promote the Coalition's prevention, wellness, and recovery support efforts.

Whether you're able to volunteer for a few hours, help spread the word, or simply stop by and say hello, we appreciate your support. If you're interested in volunteering or have any questions, please comment/message us here or contact the Coalition office at 815-390-5024.

Thank you for helping us make Summerfest 2026 a success!

𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙬𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧, 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮.

06/08/2026

We are looking for help with a community patriotic beautification project in preparation for America's 250th Anniversary on the 4th of July.

When: Saturday June 27, 2026
Time: 10:00am
Volunteers will meet in the parking lot across from the Police Department at Main St./Center St. for instructions and to receive supplies.
(Rain Date: Sunday June 28th, same time)

What: We will be placing red, white and blue vinyl streamers around poles along Braidwood's Main Street from Division St. to Comet Drive, as well as Front St. from McDonald's to Subway.

Help will be divided into teams and assigned designated starting points.

If you are interested in helping with this project, please message our page or send us an email at [email protected].

(Please indicate if you are available for the rain date as well.)

Community service hours can be given if needed.

06/06/2026

Our 45th Annual Braidwood Lions Club Summerfest Car Show, coordinated by the RC Gridiron Club will take place Saturday July 18, 2026 from 10am to 2pm in the north end of the Old Smokey City Park.

Registration on day of event.
$20 per entry (CASH ONLY)
All proceeds from registration fees to benefit the RC Gridiron Club's activities, programs & mission for Reed-Custer High School athletes.

Registration open from 9am to 10:30am.
All entries must be parked by 11am to be judged

Trophies to be awarded at 1:00pm
1st thru 3rd Place (participant judged)
Special Choice awards:
- RC School’s Choice
- RC Gridiron Club’s Choice
- Braidwood Lions Club’s Choice
- Braidwood Fire Department’s Choice
- Braidwood Police Department’s Choice

All makes, models & years are welcome to participate.

Show cars should enter thru the north entrance gate off of Third Street, and follow the signs to the show area.

Spectator parking will be available in north parking lot off of Third Street or south parking lot off of First Street.

06/05/2026

Everybody knows that our Summerfest bingo games are a huge hit. But what makes them even more special is thanks to the generosity of the Braidwood IL American Legion Koca Post 39 Bingo. This year, the Legion has donated $1,614.00 worth of gift certificates for us to give away to our Summerfest bingo game winners. These will be in addition to our regular cash payouts.

Gift certificates range from one of the Legion's Sunday Funday Fun Packs, to a Tuesday Bingo Big Guy Pack, or a food voucher for Di's Delight.

On top of all this, the Legion also donated $500.00 in sponsorship funds to our festival. We are extremely grateful for the support and community partnership that we have with the Braidwood American Legion Koca Post 39.

Check them out on Sundays and Tuesdays at 553 W. Kennedy Road in Braidwood. Visit their page for full details.

06/04/2026

Last month, the floor of the Lions’ pavilion in the Braidwood Park District’s Old Smokey City Park got a major facelift thanks to members of Painters Union Local #33. Members volunteered their time as part of a union community service project which made a huge impact for the Park District and our club. Volunteers ground down the existing concrete floor, filled cracks and installed an epoxy flaked floor coating. We are greatly appreciative for the generosity and assistance from the members of Painters Local #33 in making this project become a reality.

Another huge thank you to Sunbelt Rentals for donating the equipment needed to complete the project.

For more information on Painters Local #33, please visit their page or https://pdc14.com/local-33

06/04/2026

If you are a Braidwood resident, organization or business interested in participating in the Annual Braidwood All Town Garage Sale Days sponsored by The First Presbyterian Church of Braidwood be sure to get your entry form submitted before the deadline of Sunday June 7th at Noon.

All interested homes or organizations wishing to be included in the sales listing should submit the completed entry form along with the $8.00 participation fee (payable by cash or check made out to the 1st Presbyterian Church of Braidwood) to:
The Braidwood Garage Sale Days
812 W. Main Street,
Braidwood, Il 60408

DEADLINE to Enter: Sunday, June 7th at 12 noon.

Entry forms can be found in The Braidwood Journal Newspaper, online using the link below, or picked up at the following locations in Braidwood:
- City Hall
- Whitmore Ace Hardware
- Fossil Ridge Public Library
- In front of 1st Presbyterian Church

Click the following link to view & print the official 2026 Braidwood All Town Garage Sale Days entry form.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ubml4EJ76LqPFK4nd8Ap6b5xXRnv0o-L/view?usp=sharing

DEADLINE TO ENTER: SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2026 AT NOON
Entry forms must be dropped off at the address listed on the form.
Please DO NOT drop them off at the church.

**Entry Forms Now Available for the 2026 Annual Braidwood All Town Garage Sale Days**

Entry forms are now available for the 2026 Annual Braidwood All Town Garage Sale Days sponsored by The First Presbyterian Church of Braidwood.

All interested homes or organizations wishing to be included in the sales listing should submit the completed entry form along with the $8.00 participation fee (payable by cash or check made out to the 1st Presbyterian Church of Braidwood) to:
The Braidwood Garage Sale Days
812 W. Main Street,
Braidwood, Il 60408

DEADLINE to Enter: Sunday, June 7th at 12 noon.

Entry forms can be found in The Braidwood Journal Newspaper, online using the link below, or picked up at the following locations in Braidwood:
- City Hall
- Whitmore Ace Hardware
- Fossil Ridge Public Library
- In front of 1st Presbyterian Church

Click the following link to view & print the official 2026 Braidwood All Town Garage Sale Days entry form.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ubml4EJ76LqPFK4nd8Ap6b5xXRnv0o-L/view?usp=sharing

DEADLINE TO ENTER: SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2026 AT NOON
Entry forms must be dropped off at the address listed on the form.
Please DO NOT drop them off at the church.

06/02/2026

Mother Nature may have put a damper on our plans last year, but we’ve decided to do a “Take II”. It is our great honor to announce that our friends and community partners Freak & Debby of Top Fuel Saloon will join us as Grand Marshals of our 45th Annual Braidwood Lions Club Summerfest Hometown Proud Parade. Freak & Debby have used Top Fuel Saloon as an avenue to make a lasting impact on our community, and for that we are forever grateful. From helping to provide food & necessities to those in need of assistance, to supporting our local organizations, and honoring our military service men & women and Veterans, Freak & Debby’s dedication and passion for service has made our decision very easy.

Immediately after last year’s Summerfest parade got rained out, and several more times before his passing this past December, our festival founder Lion Wayne Saltzman urged us to consider Freak & Debby for this year’s Grand Marshals as he was very excited to have them lead our parade. We are pleased to honor Lion Wayne’s recommendation.

Freak & Debby will lead our parade down Braidwood’s Main Street on Sunday July 19th starting at 1pm. Come join us as we say thank you for everything that Freak & Debby have done for our community.

(photo from 2025 Grand Marshal presentation)

05/30/2026

Our 45th Annual Braidwood Lions Club Summerfest is right around the corner. Our page will be the center hub for information on the festival and we'll be pushing out lots of it!!
Here are the various informational & event flyers that we have put out so far. More will be added as the festival gets closer. Our website www.braidwoodlionsclub.org/summerfest is another great resource for information on our festival.

Summerfest is our club's largest fundraiser of the year, which helps to raise the funds needed for our various humanitarian services and community projects.

05/30/2026

Entry forms for our 45th Annual Braidwood Lions Club Summerfest Hometown Proud Parade can be found on the Summerfest page of our website www.braidwoodlionsclub.org. Our Hometown Proud Parade is a great way to promote your business or organization and show your participation in the community.

Please see the attached flyer for more details