Your Summer Adventure Starts Now!!! 

May 25, 2023

It is here! Time to pull out your shorts & sandals and head out to play in the great outdoors for the next three months of summer. There is no better place to spend your sunny summer days than right here at your Park District.  

If you haven’t picked up a pickleball paddle, now is the time to get in on this new sports phenomenon. Did you know your park district has the largest pickleball complex on the north shore at Danny Cunniff Park? For the last three years, Danny Cunniff Park’s pickleball courts have been home to the Chicago Open Pickleball tournament that draws over 700 players nationwide.  

If golf is your game, head over to Sunset Valley Golf Club. This award-winning “heathland” style course provides dramatic panoramic views and challenges the golfer’s mental toughness to focus on executing the shot at hand. And the Highland Park Golf Learning Center is your destination to improve your swing with a lesson from our golf pro and practice with a bucket of balls or two at our driving range.

Are you looking for outdoor activities for the whole family? We have got you covered. Play a fun round at River’s Edge Mini Golf. The course features 18 challenging holes. Grab your beach gear and spend a day at the spectacular Rosewood Beach. If the pool is more your style, Hidden Creek AquaPark has something for everyone – a splash pad, zero entry for the little ones, and crazy fast slides for your daredevils. We have also planned hundreds of fun events and activities to give you and your family a fabulous summer to remember. Here are some highlights:

100 Days of Summer Events at Hidden Creek AquaPark

You saw that right – an event every day at the pool!  Games, fitness classes, limbo contests, scavenger hunts, and more.   Even the lifeguards are getting into the act.

Free! In the Park Entertainment Series

This new entertainment series features concerts, movies, art, and games in beautiful parks throughout Highland Park.   We are even hosting a Doggie Beach Party at Moraine Dog Beach for your favorite pooches.   

Ravinia Farmers Market

Ravinia Farmers Market is back for its 45th Anniversary Season! Every Wednesday between 7am-1pm, stop by Jens Jensen Park and support local farmers and artisans. Every week features different vendors and music. 

Duck Derbies
Sun, June 11 & Fri, July 28, 3-3:30pm

Duck, duck, go! Join us for a Duck Derby at Hidden Creek AquaPark! Purchase one duck for $5 or a Quack Pack of six ducks for $25 and watch them race down the slide! The first duck to reach the rope wins a prize. All proceeds benefit the Parks Foundation of Highland Park, helping hundreds of families in need of financial assistance access to all recreation programs, including summer camps, swimming lessons, sports, and fitness programs.

Summer Solstice
Wed, June 21, 5:30-7pm

End your day in the most breathtaking way! Celebrate International Day of Yoga on the boardwalk at Rosewood Beach with instructor Trayci Handelman while enjoying live acoustic music/performance by Ryan Herrick.

3rd Annual North Shore Pickleball Tournament
Sat, June 24, 8am -1pm

Hosted by the Parks Foundation of Highland Park, this Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles Event benefits the Parks Foundation SMILE grant-in-aid program — giving families in need of financial assistance the opportunity to participate in Park District programs. 

Independence Day Community Picnic at Sunset Wood Park
Tues, July 4, 11:30am-1:30pm

Bring your lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and enjoy a fun relaxing picnic in the park with your friends and neighbors.   All ages are welcome!  The day includes live musical performances by Rod Tuffcurls & the Bench Press and the Highland Park Pops, food trucks (food for purchase), family-friendly games, activities, and crafts.

Cozy Campfires
Fri, July 28 & Fri, August 18, 7:30-8:30pm

Spend the twilight hour under the stars and around a cozy campfire!  Roast marshmallows, eat as many s’mores until your tummies are full, and have fun with friends!

Back to School Splash
Wed, August 16, 5-8pm

Say adios to summer and aloha to school! Let’s kick off a great year together with music, fun, and of course SPLASHING! Join us at the Hidden Creek AquaPark to end a great summer and learn about all our fall programs. All registrants ages 3 and higher will be entered into a drawing for some sweet swag, too!