🍦South Suburbs Scoop

October 17th, 2025

John Sintich
October 17, 2025

Happy Friday! I hope you’re enjoying the beginning of Fall, where wives drag their husbands to the pumpkin patch on Sunday and they watch the NFL game on their iPhones. At least we have a real football team to watch in Chicago again!

Here’s what’s happening in our neck of the woods:

Frankfort’s New Thrift Store Now Accepting Donations
New Listing: Renovated Move-In Ready 4 Bed/2 Bath Mokena Home - $335K
List of Area Halloween Activities & Local Halloween Hours
Paul McCartney Scheduled in Chicago in November
Gas Drops to $2.82/gallon in New Lenox
Area Live Music and Sports
Real Estate Round-Up

To Our Readers: What would you like to see more in the newsletter? Email [email protected] to provide your feedback!

Let’s Get Into It!

-John

WHAT’S NEW IN THE SOUTH ‘BURBS

📍 Frankfort’s New Thrift Store Grand Opening on October 25th - Donate Here! - Details

📍 Slick City Slide Park Opens in Orland Park - Details

📍 New Contract For D146 Teachers - Details

📍 Hickory Creek Bike Trail Resurfacing Update - Details

📍 Bullvino’s Brazilian Steakhouse Coming Soon to Bolingbrook - Video | Details

📍 Frankfort Housing Expands by 4.2% - Video

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

📍 Mokena’s Potential for Buyers in 2026 - Video

📍 Current Average Home Value in Our Area - Video

LOCAL HALLOWEEN HOURS ANNOUCED

MOKENA | NEW LENOX | MANHATTAN | TINLEY | ORLAND

UPCOMING HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES

📍 Scariest Haunted Houses Nearby (Area-Wide) - Details

📍 Until Oct 31 - Boo at the Zoo at Brookfield Zoo (Chicago) - Details

📍 Until Nov 1 - Jack O’ Lantern World at the Forge (Lemont) - Details

📍 Until Nov 2 - Haunted Hollows at the Will County Fair (Peotone) - Details

📍 State-Wide Halloween Activities - Details

📍 Oct 17 - Halloween Bash (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 18 - Halloween on the Farm at STRIDES (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 18 - Hocus Pocus Boo Brunch at Social 45 (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 18 - Scary at the Prairie (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 19 - Trunk or Treat at Cars & Coffee (Mokena) - Details

📍 Oct 20 - Alsip’s Pumpkin Succulent Centerpiece Workshop (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 22 - Alsip’s Venus Flytrap TERRORium Workshop (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 23 - Pumpkin Carving Contest (Mokena) - Details

📍 Oct 24 - Sundae Spooktacular at the Creamery (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Oct 24 - Ghost Stories on the Green (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 24 - “Hotel Transylvania” Dive in Movie Event (Romeoville) - Details

📍 Oct 25 - Trunk or Treat with Police Department (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 25 - Trunk or Treat at Park District (Mokena) - Details

📍 Oct 25 - Halloween ComicFest 2025 (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 25 - Boo Ridge Trick or Treat Event (Burr Ridge) - Details

📍 Oct 26 - Boo Bash Halloween Event (Tinley Park) - Details

📍 Oct 29 - Ale Trolley Ready for Ghouls’ Night Out (Tinley Park) - Details

📍 Oct 29 - Spooky Naughty Bingo at The Chill House (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 31 - Halloween Night Howl at the Moon at CD&Me (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 31 - Wonder-Time Play Lounge Halloween Event (Orland Park) - Details

📍 Oct 31 - Don’t Skip The Cottages Senior Living Center on Halloween (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Nov 2 - 3rd Annual Bash Your Pumpkin Event (New Lenox) - Details

THIS WEEK’S LOCAL LIVE MUSIC

📍TOP LIST KARAOKE - VFW (New Lenox) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅 Fri, Oct 17 | 8PM

📍JACK BYRON LIVE - Hickory Creek (New Lenox) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅 Fri, Oct 17 | 6:30PM

📍METALLICA & NICKELBACK TRIBUTES- Jamo’s Live (Mokena) 🎟 Details
💲$9.35 | 📅Fri, Oct 17 | 9:00PM

📍MODERN COUNTRY ROCK - The Chill House (Frankfort) 🎟 Details
💲$5.00 | 📅 Fri, Oct 17 | 9PM

📍TIME BANDITS LIVE - Social 45 (Frankfort) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅Fri, Oct 17 | 7:30PM

📍COUNTRY ICONS: LUKE, CARRIE & JASON- Jamo’s Live (Mokena) 🎟 Details
💲$12.55 | 📅 Sat, Oct 18 | 9:00PM

📍CRAWFORD’S DAUGHTER LIVE - Hickory Creek (New Lenox) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅Sat, Oct 18 | 6:30PM

📍RUSH TRIBUTE - The Chill House (Frankfort) 🎟 Details
💲$5.00 | 📅 Sat, Oct 18 | 7PM

📍HARMONIOUS JONES - Social 45 (Frankfort) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅Sat, Oct 18 | 7PM

📍OPEN MIC NIGHT - Hickory Creek (New Lenox) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅Tues, Oct 21 | 6:30PM

📍OPEN MIC NIGHT - Social 45 (Frankfort) 🎟 Details
💲Free | 📅Tues, Oct 21 | 7PM

GREATER CHICAGOLAND LIVE MUSIC & MORE

📍 October 17	Lainey Wilson	Rosemont - Details
📍 October 17 - 19	Disney’s Descendants	Elkhart, IN - Details
📍 October 18	Brett Michaels	Joliet - Details
📍 October 20	Adam Sandler	Chicago - Details
📍 October 23	Nate Bargatze	Chicago - Details
📍 November 24	Paul McCartney	Chicago - Details

Cheapest Gas in the South Burbs!

PRICES AS OF 10/16 - Website

📍 Manhattan - $2.85 - ⬇️ From Last Week

📍 New Lenox - $2.82 ⬇️ From Last Week

📍 Mokena - $2.98 ⬇️ From Last Week

📍 Frankfort - $2.88 ⬇️ From Last Week

JOBS, ETC.

📍 Numerous Student & Adult Opportunities at Thrift Home Restoration (Frankfort/Orland) - Details

📍 Mokena Miracles Seeking Nominations Ahead for Holidays (Mokena) - Details

FOR THE KIDDOS

📍 Oct 18 - Harvest Hike (Mokena) - Details

📍 Oct 18 - Street of Dreams Trick or Treat (Mokena) - Details

📍 Oct 18 - Built-A-Bot Workshop at KidsWork Museum (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Oct 24 - Lego Art Class at Studio C (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 25 - 14th Annual 5K Run/Walk - Kids & Pets Welcome! (Manhattan) - Details

📍 Oct 28 to Nov 11 - Tuesday After School Art Club (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Until Oct 29 - Robotics & Chain Reactions Classes at KidsWork (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Nov 9 - Fantastic Hairstyles & Furry Friends Event (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Nov 14 - Family Trivia Night at The Oaks (Mokena) - Details

📍 Nov 18 - NEW DATE: KPop Demon Hunters Art Class (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Now Enrolling Pre-K: Living Waters Children’s Center (Manhattan) - Details

📍 Kids Eat Free Wednesdays & Sundays at North + Maple (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Registration Open: Beginner & Art 1 Drawing & Painting Classes (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Take Care with Peanuts: The Exhibit at the Children’s Museum (Chicago) - Details

THIS WEEK’S LOCAL EVENTS & OFFERINGS

📍 Oct 17 - Friday Fish Fry at the VFW (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Oct 17 - Clay Making Class at Book Bar (Mokena) - Details

📍 Oct 18 - Farmers Market (Tinley Park) - Details

📍 Oct 18 - Veteran’s Resource Fair at Governor’s State (University Park) - Details

📍 Oct 18 - 9th Annual Pours for Parks Events (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 18 - Dog Howl-O-Ween Event (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 18 - Alsip’s Pond Closing Info Session (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 18 - Fall Book Sale at Library (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Oct 18 - Family Sozo Vendor Fair (Lockport) - Details

📍 Oct 19 - Trunk or Treat at Cars & Coffee (Mokena) - Details

📍 Oct 19 - Fluid Art Event at Hickory Creek Brewing (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Oct 21 - Free Poker Night at Jamo’s Live (Mokena) - Details

📍 Oct 22 - Line Dancers Anonymous at Jamo’s Live (Mokena) - Details

📍 Oct 22 - Portillo’s Fundraiser to Support Local Library (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Oct 22 - Trivia Night at Hickory Creek Brewing (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Oct 23 - 2nd Annual Hogwarts Alumni Holiday Event (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 23 - Bingo Night at Hickory Creek Brewing (New Lenox) - Details

UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

📍 Oct 25 - Alsip’s Pet Costume Contest (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 25 - Holli-Daze Holiday Art and Craft Fair & Sale (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 25 - Grand Opening Event at Bridge Thrift Home & Restoration (Frankfort) - Details

📍 Oct 25 - 14th Annual 5K Run/Walk - Kids & Pets Welcome! (Manhattan) - Details

📍 Oct 26 - Kozy Knits Event at Hickory Creek Brewing Company (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Oct 26 - Will County ShareFest at Providence High School (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Oct 27 -DYI Pie Wreath Making Workshop at Rosati’s (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Oct 29 - Ghouls Night Out Ale Trail Trolley (Tinley Park) - Details

📍 Nov 7 - Chicagoland’s Red Roses Band to Perform at Historical Museum (Joliet) - Details

📍 Nov 8 - Heros Helping ShareFest at VFW (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Nov 8 - Lions Club Holiday of Hope Blood Drive (Orland Park) - Details

📍 Nov 9 - Winter Craft Market via Francis Field Youth Foundation (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Nov 10 - Happy Birthday US Marine Corps Event at the American Legion (New Lenox) - Details

📍 Nov 14 - Family Trivia Night at The Oaks (Mokena) - Details

📍 Nov 14 - Craft Beer & Beverage Tasting Event at the Museum (Joliet) - Details

📍 Dec 6 & 7 - Seeking Vendors For Winter Market (Tinley Park) - Details

📍 Dec 7 - Seeking Vendors For Christmas Market (Frankfort) - Details

Get Access to Homes You Won’t Find Online!

🔒 The best deals never hit Zillow or Redfin.
I’ll send you private listings you won’t see anywhere else.

AREA SPORTS & MORE

📍 Congratulations to 39 Runners from New Lenox Who Participated in the Chicago Marathon! - Details

📍Bears Host Saints on Sunday and Bulls Host Pistons on Wednesday, 10/22

📍 This Weekend’s College Football: Illinois on a Bye This Week; Northwestern Hosts Purdue; and Notre Dame Hosts UNC. Check out the full college football schedule here!

📍HS Football: East Heads to Naperville North; West Hosts Bradley-Bourbonnias; Central Hosts Waubonsie Valley

📍Oct 26 - GovState Family Jaguar 5K (University Park) - Details

ADOPTION PET OF THE WEEK! Meet Papaya!

Papaya is a 1 year old incredibly sweet fella who wants to find his way into your heart! He came to P.A.W.S. on a cold day, after being terribly injured outside. Papaya has undergone 2 surgeries to fix his broken jaw, which leaves him with an adorable little smile! Papaya is extremely loving and just wants to be your best friend! He prefers to be an only pet, but he has the love of 10 cats in his heart!

Check out Papaya and other adoptable pets! Visit the P.A.W.S website for more information!

Find Your Dream Home — Faster.

🔍 Stop wasting time scrolling outdated listings.
Use my real-time search tool and get instant access to the newest homes in our area.

Real Estate Roundup

This week, the Chicagoland area including Cook and Will county have 11,002 available homes for sale. That is an increase from last week's total of 10,945 homes available for sale.

The average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate as of today is: 6.23%.

Mokena - Just Listed: 8 ⎸ Closed: 4
New Lenox - Just Listed: 10 ⎸ Closed: 10
Tinley Park- Just Listed: 15 ⎸ Closed: 17
Frankfort - Just Listed: 13 ⎸ Closed: 8