Gonzalez Previews Chicago Heights 6th Annual Sister Cities Festival on Sept. 9, 10

(Chicago Heights, IL) – What’s in store for attendees this weekend at Chicago Heights’ 6th Annual Festival of Sister Cities?

Mayor David Gonzalez says that the city’s premier cultural event will again this year feature a carnival, ethnic food, live entertainment, and a new culinary competition event.

“Chicago Heights’ great festival weekend will have terrific bands and entertainers, ethnic food booths and local favorites, children’s crafts and games, carnival rides and more,” said Gonzalez. “At its heart, the festival celebrates our community’s diverse local culture and that of our sister cities.”

Gonzalez says the kick-off of the two-day event, which will be held on the Bloom High School grounds, begins on Friday, September 8, when the carnival opens at 5:00 p.m. and runs until 10:00 p.m. that night. Admission is free.

On Saturday, the festival begins in earnest, opening at 1:00 p.m. and running until 11:00 p.m. The day’s center attraction is the Motor Bike & Car Show that runs from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

The mayor also revealed that a new event this year will be the festival’s charity “Chili Cook-Off” pitting the chili recipes of the employees from Chicago Heights’ Fire and Police and other municipal departments against each other. The cook-off will be held on Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

“Each department has designated a charity of choice, and all proceeds from ticket sales for the Chili-Cook Off will benefit these charities,” said Gonzalez. “Attendees should stop by the Chili Cook-Off tent and brave some spicy chili and to help pick the winning chili concoction.”

On Sunday, the festival runs from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Gonzalez noted that during the 1920's Chicago Heights drew workers of Italian, Irish, Polish, Mexican and African-American descent to the area to be closer to the developing steel industry, and that those cultural roots led to Chicago Heights to establish four Sister City relationships, through Sister Cities International, with: Wadowice, Poland; Asuogyaman District, Ghana, West Africa; Cedral, San Luis Potosi, Mexico; and San Benedetto del Tronto, Marche, Italy.

“This annual celebration honors our four sister cities and the cultural heritage of the immigrants who made Chicago Heights home,” Gonzalez said. “The festival will showcase Sister City booths to view the displays representing the culture and heritage of each region.”

For more information, please contact the Mayor’s Office of Special Events at: 708-755-3122.

Bloom High School is located at 10th Street and Chicago Road.

davidormsby@davidormsby.com