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Beautiful Downtown Kankakee during the day
Downtown Kankakee Events - Merchant Street Music Festival logo

Downtown Kankakee

Livable, Walkable, Workable
Welcome to the historic Downtown Kankakee District!

Downtown Kankakee Events - Merchant Street Music Festival logo

Sunset Stroll

Bi-Annual Street Fest On North & South Schuyler
Sunset Stroll North - May & Sunset Stroll South - Aug

See you in May & August
Downtown Kankakee Events - Merchant Street Music Festival logo

Merchant Street MusicFest

Love. Peace + Good Vibes.
Annual two-day music and arts festival in Downtown Kankakee

Mural at Kankakee Farmers Market
Downtown Kankakee Events - Merchant Street Music Festival logo

Farmers' Market

May through October
Weekly | Every Saturday
8:00am - Noon

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WELCOME to downtown kankakee

Downtown Kankakee offers a vibrant mix of commerce, culture, and community. From farmers markets and street festivals to live music, car shows, and seasonal celebrations, Downtown Kankakee continues to attract new businesses along with unique food and drink experiences for residents and visitors alike.
 

Below are signature events happening in Downtown Kankakee showcasing the energy and community spirit that's been helping make the experience of our historic town so special over the years. Click a local happening below to learn more!

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Kankakee Winter Market Logo
Kankakee Sunset Stroll on North Schuyler
Merchant Street Music Festival logo
Kankakee Sunset Stroll on South Schuyler
Sandwiches with a side of Jam logo
Friday Night Concert Series logo
Kankakee Farmers Market logo
Cruis'n the Square logo
Coffee Cars and Cigars logo
Ariel view of Historic Downtown Kankakee

Upcoming Events in Downtown Kankakee

  • Page 1
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Harold and Jean Minor Festival Square Fountain

Harold & Jean Miner Festival Square

HAROLD & JEAN MINER FESTIVAL SQUARE

Quick look: Festival Square is basically the centerpiece of Downtown Kankakee and the general location for many of its events. 

At the heart of Downtown is the Harold & Jean Miner Festival Square, framed by Kankakee’s 120+ year-old Depot behind it. Festival Square has become the stage for many of the community’s biggest moments. Each summer, Merchant Street MusicFest fills the district with live music and art that draws thousands of people downtown. From concerts and festivals to everyday gatherings, this is where Kankakee’s history and its future come together, always in motion just like the trains that continue to pass through. 

THE DEPOT

Quick look: Kankakee literally wouldn't  be on the map without this railroad station. It was built in 1853 and upgraded to the brick building that still stands today since 1898. 

Kankakee owes its very existence to the railroad. When the Illinois Central line reached the banks of the Kankakee River in 1853, the first wood-framed Depot was built on July 11th, 1853 as a stop along the route. That single decision put Kankakee on the map, drawing settlers, businesses, and industry to what was once open prairie. The town quickly grew around the station, and by 1854 it was officially incorporated as a city. The building was upgraded from wood to brick in 1898 and more than 120 years later, the brick Depot is still in operation and stands as a reminder that without the trains, there would be no Kankakee. From The Depot,  you can head north to Chicago’s Union Station or south toward cities like Champaign and Carbondale.  It also houses the Kankakee Railroad Museum!

We're sorry, The Depot is currently no longer available to rent for private events. Allow us to suggest a nearby Downtown Kankakee venues below:

The Depot Railroad station in downtown kankakee

The Depot - Kankakee IL (1910) Postcard from A.C. Bosselman & Co.

News & Development in Downtown Kankakee

  • Page 10

News & Development

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February 21, 2023

North Schuyler Streetscape in Downtown Kankakee

The continued revamp of South and North Schuyler Ave in Downtown Kankakee continues through the 200 block of North Schuyler Ave.


While most of the project has wrapped up, some aspects are still being finalized - such as the bike lane striping.

Lead by Piggush Engineering, Inc., the projects includes roadway, sidewalk, and landscaping improvements, enhanced lighting, bike lanes, and more.

News & Development

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November 9, 2022

Piggush Engineering Continues Office Development in Downtown Kankakee

Led by Neil Piggush, Piggush Engineering continues to play a key role in the revitalization and development of Downtown Kankakee. Their most recent projects have included the continued addition of the bike lanes and the restructuring of the North and South Schuyler streetscapes.

While the North Schuyler streetscape updates continue, the team has also been hard at work at revitalizing their soon-to-be office space on North Schuyler. Previously occupied as a bank and empty since 2006, Piggush is bringing new life to a historical piece of Downtown Kankakee.

News & Development

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August 11, 2022

South Schuyler Streetscape in Downtown Kankakee

from the other many changes we have seen happen in downtown Kankakee in the past few years. The bike lanes already in place so far have been extended by six blocks, creating a bike path that is eleven blocks in total. In addition to the bike lanes, there are several changes being made to help the flow of traffic, as well as changes to the sidewalks accompanying those roads.

News & Development

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June 15, 2022

New Lights Installed on Schuyler Avenue

The striking round lights on Schuyler Avenue have been replaced with a higher quality version for free. These lights feature a 75,000 Hour Rated Life expectancy (approximately 20 years) and are installed on a cable system over the roadway, an improvement from the previous system that required cords along the road.

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