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Community Corner

Keepataw Day Launches ‘Mega Meat Raffle’ to Support 74th Annual Parade & Fun Fest

Community fundraiser aims to support 2026 event and build toward a special 75th anniversary celebration in 2027

Keepataw_Meat Raffle_11x17
Keepataw_Meat Raffle_11x17 (Image Credit | Lemont Keepataw Day)

The Lemont Keepataw Day Committee is rolling out a new community fundraiser with a big-name prize lineup and an even bigger purpose.

The “Mega Meat Raffle” is now underway to help fund the 74th Annual Lemont Keepataw Day Parade & Fun Fest, scheduled to take place in downtown Lemont during Labor Day weekend on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. Proceeds from the raffle will also help the organization begin planning a special 75th anniversary celebration in 2027.

Only 300 tickets will be sold, priced at $100 each. Organizers say the limited-ticket format gives participants strong odds while helping raise meaningful support for one of Lemont’s longest-running community traditions.

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Thirteen prizes will be awarded, including:

  • Two half-cow packages with 15-cubic-foot deep freezers
  • Two full-pig packages with 10-cubic-foot deep freezers
  • Two 65-inch smart TVs
  • A Blackstone grill
  • Two lotto baskets
  • Two liquor baskets
  • Two Lemont Downtown gift cards

The raffle drawing will take place on Sept. 6 during the Lemont Keepataw Day festivities.

Why It Matters

Keepataw Day has been a staple of the Lemont community since 1950, bringing together residents, businesses, schools, first responders, veterans, and civic groups for a day of celebration in downtown Lemont.

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This year’s theme, “We Love Lemont,” highlights the people, traditions, and hometown spirit that make the village special.

But 2026 is also about looking ahead.

Organizers are already planning for the festival’s 75th anniversary in 2027 and hope the raffle will help create a larger-than-usual celebration for the milestone year.

“This fundraiser helps us continue a tradition that has brought Lemont together for generations,” organizers said. “It also allows us to start building toward a memorable 75th anniversary celebration in 2027.”

How to Buy Tickets

Tickets can be purchased online by scanning the QR code on the event flyer or visiting: keepatawmegameatraffle.live/2026

About Keepataw Day

The annual event is named after Potawatomi Chief Keepataw, whose tribe settled near what is now Lemont. The celebration has evolved from a small downtown festival into a major Labor Day weekend tradition featuring a parade, live music, food vendors, artisan market, kids’ activities, and more.

The Lemont Keepataw Day organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

For more information about the parade, Fun Fest, sponsorships, or volunteer opportunities, visit: lemontkeepataw.com/

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