Swing Dance Soiree in Oak Park

Swing dance enthusiasts are welcome to join the Spring Soiree Dance from 5 to 8 p.m. on June 12 at Oak Park Arms Senior Living, located at 408 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park. The Swing Set Big Band will provide live music from the 1950s and 1960s. Hors d’oeuvres will be served from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by music and dancing from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free, but registration is necessary to ensure space and refreshments. For more details, call 708-386-4040 or visit the website at www.oakparkarms.com.

Jazz Performance at La Grange Church

Alyssa Algood, a renowned jazz vocalist, is set to perform at a community concert series hosted by First Presbyterian Church of La Grange, located at 150 S. Ashland Ave. The concert will occur at 7 p.m. on June 16 on the church lawn, weather permitting. Audience members are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket, along with snacks. Algood will deliver jazz standards and original uplifting songs, accompanied by a pianist. The church offers concerts every third Tuesday of the month. For more information, visit FPCLG.org.

Oak Park & River Forest Symphony Performance

The Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest will premiere a piano concerto at their performance on June 14 at 4 p.m., held at the chapel at Concordia University. Mio Nakamura will perform the premiere of Alexander Groesch’s “Piano Concerto No. 1.” Other highlights include violinist Nikki Chooi performing Bruch’s “Violin Concerto No. 1” and Joseph Suk’s “Märchen.” A pre-concert discussion starts at 3 p.m. Attendees can participate in a complimentary reception following the concert. Free parking is offered at 1124 Bonnie Brae. Tickets are available at $30 until June 13, with a $5 increase on the concert day. Students, including college attendees, can attend without charge. Tickets can be purchased at SymphonyOPRF.org, by calling 708-218-2648, or via email at [email protected].

Elmwood Park Resident Receives Student Success Award

Dylan Ramirez from Elmwood Park has been awarded the 2026 Illinois Community College Trustees Association Gregg Chadwick Student Success Award. Ramirez, a psychology student and recent graduate of Triton College in River Grove, is known for his dedication to volunteer service. He intends to transfer to a four-year university to work with adolescents. He received a $1,000 scholarship on June 5 at the association’s awards banquet. On campus, Ramirez was active as president of Active Minds, Model Illinois Government, vice president of Model United Nations, and vice president of Chi Zeta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. He organized events such as Brew For You to promote mental health awareness. In a statement, he expressed pride in his achievements.

Elmhurst Church Hosts Juneteenth Celebration

St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, located at 125 W. Church St., Elmhurst, will hold a Juneteenth event from 9:30 a.m. to noon on June 14. Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the United States. The free celebration, in collaboration with Christfirst United Methodist Church, includes worship, a jazz combo by Evon Sams, games, a bouncy house, a meal, and Ida’s Artisan Ice Cream. Attendees are invited to bring a dish to share and register via the church’s website, stpeterselmhurst.org, or by calling 630-530-6000.

Teen Driving Ambassadors Earn Scholarships

This year, 17 Teen Ambassadors for the SafeLIGHT Foundation each received a $2,500 scholarship. The program promotes safe driving messages to prevent crashes and save lives. The ambassadors, representing nine area high schools, include Genesis Watts, Rayten Skotmyr, Loren Rounds, Anyla Martin, Jordan Lee, Chaz Christian Knight, Kara Grant, Alayna Gilspie, Amouri Fisher, Izabell Kutyla Enriquez, Erin Eberhardt, Bisola Disu, Anna Condron, Brianna Coleman, Courtney Clemons, Alina Chavez, and Leilani Barnes. Students are tasked with sharing safe driving information through social media and town hall meetings. Applications for next year’s class are currently open. More information is available at safelightfoundation.com/teen-ambassador-program. The foundation has given $138,000 in scholarships to over 50 teens, collaborating with 21 Chicago area high schools.

Chicago Scots Festival Celebrates Scottish Culture

The 40th annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 12 and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on June 13 at the DuPage Event Center & Fairgrounds, Wheaton. The festival includes Highland dancing, children’s activities, a major bagpiping championship, caber toss, Scottish genealogy, a British car show, and a petting zoo. The marketplace will offer Scottish items like kilts, jewelry, beer, and candy. A World Cup watch party for Scotland versus Haiti is scheduled for 8 p.m. on June 13. All proceeds support Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care, linked to Chicago Scots. Children 11 and under enter for free, and parking is complimentary. Tickets are cheaper online, with options for single-day, weekend, and VIP passes at www.chicagoscots.org.