🌱 How will 14 months of courthouse renovations affect Kankakee residents?
Kankakee, Illinois Patch AM: a 4 min readGood morning Kankakee! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How will 14 months of courthouse renovations affect Kankakee residents?
- Which Kankakee football stars made the All-Area list for 2026?
- Heading to Strawberry Jazz Fest? Here’s what’s planned for Sunday.
Also on today's calendar: Gebhard Woods Dulcimer & Tradtional Music Festival and 6 more events.
Today's riddle: What do sweet potatoes wear to bed? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Friday: Mostly sunny and less humid, with a high of 82 and low of 60 degrees.
- Saturday: A steady morning breeze, temps: high: 83, low: 63.
- Sunday: A morning shower possible, with a high of 73 and low of 53 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Kankakee County Courthouse renovation to begin in July (shawlocal.com) — Kankakee County is moving ahead with a $3.9 million first phase of renovations to the 114-year-old courthouse, with work starting July 24 and spanning nine phases over about 14 months. Upgrades include a full-building backup generator, HVAC improvements, a 10th courtroom, security enhancements, and preservation work, all funded largely by a $6 million state appropriation. 
• Returning Daily Journal All-Area football players (shawlocal.com) — Kankakee football fans can look forward to standout senior lineman Jyheir Sutton anchoring the Kays’ defense again this fall, joined by several other Kankakee players honored on the Daily Journal All-Area list. The feature also highlights key returners from nearby programs like Coal City, Bradley-Bourbonnais, Bishop McNamara, Wilmington, and more as the 2026 season approaches.
• Kankakee County Strawberry Jazz Fest returns Sunday (shawlocal.com) — Kankakee County’s Strawberry Jazz Festival is back this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Northfield Square Mall in Bradley, with free admission, parking, and entertainment. Expect local artists, crafters, two stages of live music, kids’ activities, food trucks, and plenty of strawberries, all organized by the Community Arts Council of Kankakee County.
📸 Around Kankakee
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Kankakee
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
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Gebhard Woods Dulcimer & Tradtional Music Festival →
Goold Park, 308 Northern Ave, Morris
9:00 am
Saturday June 13
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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Baptism (bilingual)- Dominguez, Valentin
St. John Paul II Catholic Parish St John Paul II Parish - West, 907 S 9th St, Kankakee, IL 60901
11:00 am -
Maker Patch Club →
Kankakee Public Library Teen Zone
11:00 am -
Renovación de Votos (Ayala)
St. John Paul II Catholic Parish 956 S 10th Ave, Kankakee, IL 60901
12:00 pm -
Wedding - Murillo y Seba
St. John Paul II Catholic Parish St John Paul II Parish - West, 907 S 9th St, Kankakee, IL 60901
2:00 pm -
Blood Pressure Screening
St. John Paul II Catholic Parish
10:30 am -
Tulips & Tanlines →
Splash Valley Aquatic Center, 1850 River Rd, Kankakee
12:00 pm -
Lil' Sprouts
Kankakee Public Library 201 East Merchant St., Kankakee, IL 60901
10:00 am -
FORTITUDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Kankakee Public Library 1st Floor A
1:00 pm
Saturday June 13
Sunday June 14
Monday June 15
📣 Kankakee Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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Settles Center- Ayala (Set-up)
St. John Paul II Catholic Parish St John Paul II Parish - West, 907 S 9th St, Kankakee, IL 60901
9:00 am -
Food Truck Fridays →
Perry Farm Park, 459 Kennedy Dr, Bourbonnais
5:00 pm -
Celebración del Sagrado Corazón
St. John Paul II Catholic Parish Holy Family Hall & Church
6:00 pm -
Baptism (bilingual)- Dominguez, Valentin
St. John Paul II Catholic Parish St John Paul II Parish - West, 907 S 9th St, Kankakee, IL 60901
11:00 am
Friday June 12
Saturday June 13
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Circle K Stores, Inc. posted a job opening for Customer Service Representative in Kankakee. Apply here.
- McDonald's Restaurants posted a job opening for Kitchen Crew Team Member in Kankakee. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Kankakee here.
🗞 Nearby News
Bradley
- Bradley Boulevard set for $3.5M streetscape project (shawlocal.com)
- $850K to repairs some Bradley government building roofs and mechanicals (shawlocal.com)
Ok Kankakee! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Yammies! (Thank you Lynda S. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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