HOMEWOOD, Il. - Train-lovers of all ages will have freight-loads of fun at the 13th Annual Homewood Rail Fest on Saturday, May 20 in the H-F Park District Auditorium, 2010 Chestnut Road and at Martin Avenue Square, 18020 Martin Ave., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year’s festival marks the return of rides on Canadian National’s trackless train Little Obie. Visitors also experience numerous model train displays, a wide assortment of train collectables, kid crafts with a hobo and train theme, MG Bailey performing folk railroad songs, and more. Homewood Science Center celebrates Rail Fest with PopUp SCIENCE exploring railroads and rollercoasters. Homewood Rail Fest is free and open to the public. For more information on Homewood Rail Fest, visit homesweethomewood.com or call 708-798-3000.
“Homewood loves celebrating its railroad heritage,” said Village Mayor Rich Hofeld. “Our friends at the Homewood Science Center are also planning activities that explore the physics and fun of railroads and roller coasters!"
In the H-F Park District Auditorium, visitors will experience the intricate multiple gauge train layouts, kids crafts include decoding , creating train puzzles and coloring train cut-outs. MG Bailey will perform rail songs from yesteryear on Martin Ave Square 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and food and sweets vendors.
In a tent at Martin Avenue Square, across the street from the Auditorium, vendors showcase one-of-a kind collections of antique trains, model trains, train memorabilia, and items associated with all things train. Patrons can also ride Lil’ Obie between the two points and throughout Downtown Homewood.
Homewood Science Center’s doors are open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a kid-friendly drop-in PopUp SCIENCE exploration of railroads and roller coasters. The HF Robotics team is programming a robot to lift a yoga ball onto different coaster ramps and patrons get to predict which path the ball will take. In addition, visitors can check out a patent from the 1919 “Pleasure Railway Structure”, a roller coaster engineered by Homewood’s own John Miller. Additional activities include building a model roller coaster out of foam pipe insulation, making a railcar from candy and snapping a photo in a railcar cut out. The PopUp SCIENCE event is free and open to the public. No advance registration is requested.
Additional rail amenities in Homewood include the Rail Watching Platform on Harwood next to the Metra station. Viewers can watch the train traffic and even listen to the conductors as they maneuver on one of the eight tracks servicing Amtrak, Metra and freight trains. Also the Rail Park, on Park Ave north of the Metra station, features a newly restored interior of Illinois Central caboose 9426. Connecting the two rail attractions is the underground pedestrian tunnel adorned with murals depicting local railroad history and murals painted by Homewood’s Girls Scouts.
Homewood Rail Fest is Saturday, May 20 in the H-F Park District Auditorium, 2010 Chestnut Rd., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Homewood Rail Fest is free and open to the public. For more information on Homewood Rail Fest, visit homesweethomewood.com or call (708)798-3000.
ABOUT THE VILLAGE OF HOMEWOOD
The Village of Homewood is a quiet suburban village located just 25 miles south of Chicago's Loop. Recently named the third “Best Place to Live” out of 25 U.S. communities by CNN Money.com, Homewood is also listed as one of the top most livable metro area suburbs by Forbes.com. Nationally-Acclaimed elementary and high school districts as well as parochial schools, an award winning park district, and commuter friendly downtown with Amtrak and Metra stops and convenient exit ramps off I 80 and I 294 are just a few of Homewood’s amenities. Homewood takes pride in hosting over 60 outdoor festivals yearly and expanded downtown growth, including a boutique hotel and craft breweries. Homewood is acknowledge by Chicago Magazine, Chicago Tribune, WGN-TV and the Chaddick Institute/DePaul University among others as a creative community with a high standard for quality of life and an abundance of amenities for young families. For more information visit www.HomeSweetHomewood.com
