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15th Annual Festival is 9 AM to 3 PM and Features Model Train Layouts, Kid Crafts, CN’s Little Obie Trackless Train, Live Music and More!
I have a soft spot for Chicago's southern burb, Homewood. My grandma, aunt, uncle, and my 4 cousins lived there throughout my childhood and I have fond memories of turtle ponds, ice cream, and running barefoot down the sidewalks there. This weekend The Village of Homewood celebrates its rich rail history at the 15th Annual Homewood Rail Fest on Saturday, May 18 in the H-F Park District Auditorium, 2010 Chestnut Road, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you've got a train fan at home, it's worth the trek. You can even take the Metra there from Chicago. The Village of Homewood is a located just 25 miles south of Chicago's Loop.
Visitors will experience numerous model train displays, a wide assortment of train collectables, kid crafts, folk railroad songs sung by MG Bailey, trackless train rides on Canadian National’s Little Obie and more. 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.
“This is a great festival for the whole family to experience what makes Homewood such a wonderful community.,” said Village Mayor Rich Hofeld. “The town was built around the railroad. Homewood’s Rail Fest is the perfect time for the community to come together and to have for everyone outside the community to visit us on the Metra Electric line."
The Homewood Rail Fest features intricate multiple gauge train layouts to view and kids activities including crafts and coloring train cut-outs. Kids can also participate in the railroad scavenger hunt, finding hidden items in the train layouts to receive a prize. Collectors can also view and purchase vintage train memorabilia including antique trains, model trains and items associated with the bygone days of the railroad. Homewood’s own MG Bailey is performing rail songs from yesteryear and food is available as well.
Additional rail amenities in Homewood include the Rail Watching Platform on Harwood next to the Metra station. Viewers can watch the train traffic and listen to the conductors as they maneuver on one of the eight tracks servicing Amtrak, Metra and freight trains. Visitors can also experience the Rail Park, on Park Ave north of the Metra station, featuring the newly restored 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 18 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. Homewood Rail Fest is sponsored by The Homewood Rail Committee and The Village of Homewood. 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 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
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