Thursday, June 5, 2025 | View in browser
Good afternoon,
Read below for information about the First Fridays kickoff event, Juneteenth celebrations, the first Starlight Concert to take the summer stage, and much more!
 Kick off summer with First Friday at Mason Park
The City’s “My City, Your City, Our City” initiative is back with First Friday events planned for June 6 and August 1 at Mason Park. Hosted by the C.A.R.E. team and Evanston Collective, these family-friendly events offer a great opportunity for the community to come together.
First Friday: Head to Mason Park tomorrow, June 6, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for an evening of community fun! Enjoy free food from Curt’s Café, music by DJ Corey Bless, BINGO, games, and more. Don’t forget to wear orange in recognition of National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
My Center, Your Center, Our Center: Starting June 9, middle schoolers can join free evening activities in a safe, welcoming space at the Robert Crown Center, Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
 Summer entertainment is in full swing! 🎵
The Starlight Concert and Movie Series officially begins Tuesday, June 10, at Tallmadge Park (927 Noyes St.) with a concert by the J. Davis Trio, bringing big beats and garage jazz vibes starting at 6 p.m. Bring your friends, grab a bite from the Soul & Smoke Food Truck, and enjoy the vibrant sounds of live music.
 Summer Youth Food Program begins June 9
The City is offering free breakfast and lunch for youth ages 1-18 at multiple locations across the city this summer as a part of its Summer Youth Food Program. No sign-up or income requirements are needed, simply drop in! Meals will be served Monday-Friday from June 9 to August 8, with breakfast available from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Meal pickup locations: Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, Robert Crown Community Center, Mason Park, and Dawes School.
 Save the date for Juneteenth Celebrations
Join the City in honoring Juneteenth with our annual parade and celebrations on Saturday, June 21.
Freedom Parade: Start the celebration by watching or joining the Freedom Parade, stepping off at 11 a.m. from its new starting point at Dempster St. and Dodge Ave., and continuing to Ingraham Park. Get involved by joining in the march (register today) or signing up to volunteer.
A Divine Nine Juneteenth: Following the parade, join the City between noon and 4 p.m., at Ingraham Park for a celebratory afternoon. Enjoy live music, spoken word, performances by the Divine Nine and Ayodele Drum & Dance, kids' activities, food, artisan vendors, and more!
A message about bats from our Animal Control Warden
 As temperatures rise, bats will be coming out of hibernation. Bats can enter residences through open doors, windows, and chimneys, but any opening larger than ¼ inch can allow a bat into a structure.
If you find a bat in your home, avoid all physical contact. Do not try to get the bat to go outdoors. The bat should be safely captured, and it should remain in a closed box or bin until you have spoken with the City’s Animal Control Warden or Health Department. Do not release the bat unless you have been instructed to do so. Once captured, please call the Evanston Police Department at 847-866-5000 so that testing of the bat for rabies can be coordinated through Animal Control. If you don’t feel comfortable capturing the bat yourself, confine it to a room and call the Evanston Police Department for assistance.
After Animal Control has arranged for testing of the bat, the Health Department will assess the risk of rabies from a bat exposure for all people in the home. Most bats do not have rabies, and simply finding a bat in the home is not an indication to start rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. Health Department staff will ask questions to make a recommendation on prophylaxis based on each unique situation. If you have had any physical contact with a bat or other wild animal, you can also call the health department via Evanston 311 for a rabies risk assessment. Additional information on bats can be found on the Illinois Department of Public Health’s page.
More News and Events
Fireworks light up June 15 for NU Commencement 🎆
Northwestern will celebrate the Class of 2025 with a fireworks display on June 15 at 8:45 p.m. The fireworks will launch from a barge in Lake Michigan near Northwestern’s lakefill, with an on-campus lakefill launch as a backup location.
ETHS to begin construction on Arts+Innovation Wing
ETHS will begin construction on a new studio theater as part of its Arts+Innovation Wing, with work scheduled from late May through July 2026. The North Lake Street sidewalk between Dodge Ave. and Wildkit Dr. will be closed for the duration of the project.
Help Shape the Future of Fitzsimons Park!
The City is investing $900,000 to improve Fitzsimons Park and is currently in the concept design phase. Initial design concepts have been developed and are available for public input. Please take a short community survey to share your thoughts on the designs and amenities proposed.
Pavement patching will begin the week of June 9
Pavement patching will begin the week of June 9 and is expected to take four to six weeks, weather permitting. Crews will replace deteriorated asphalt at over 125 locations, improving about 31,000 sq. yds. of pavement.
Lead Service Line replacements for Evanston daycares
The City collaborates with the Cook County Lead Care program to replace lead service lines at local daycare centers, improving water safety for children. So far, six Evanston facilities have undergone lead service line replacements. Learn more about the program and how to apply.
ComEd will increase prices in June
ComEd customers can expect about a 10% increase in their average bills due to higher wholesale electricity costs, which are passed on without markup. Learn about available resources to help you manage energy use, find financial assistance, and save with their Energy Efficiency Program.
Get Engaged
Community Calendar
In Evanston, #YouBelong! 🦋
This June, we’re proud to stand with 29 other cities and counties across the country for Immigrant Heritage Month as part of the #YouBelong campaign, celebrating the invaluable contributions of immigrant communities and sending a clear, powerful message: you belong here.
In Evanston, immigrants help shape the culture, energy, and spirit of our city. Our Welcoming Ordinance reflects our deep commitment to making sure everyone, no matter where they come from, feels safe and supported.
This campaign was created by artist Anna Pelavin and is backed by Cities For Action and Cities & Counties for Citizenship.
That’s it for today's e-news. Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
The City of Evanston Communications Team
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