Tinley Block Party: When And Where To Enjoy The '80s-Themed Event

TINLEY PARK, IL — Still listening to Tears for Fears and the Pet Shop Boys on a dual-cassette boombox and sporting a Keith Haring Swatch and parachute pants while knocking out a personal best in Zaxxon on your ColecoVision before practicing your popping-and-locking as you watch "Beat Street" on your LaserDisc player?¹ If that previous sentence made sense to you², then the '80s Life Amplified theme for Tinley Park's annual block party will make it a totally gnarly event.

The Downtown Tinley Block Party will be from noon to 7 p.m. July 15 along Oak Park Avenue, between 171st and Hickory streets. The event will feature a variety of 1980s-centric activities and musical acts, and everyone attending is encouraged to wear their favorite Me Decade clothing. That's an invitation to break out the pastel, pop-collared, Polo shirts, Members Only jackets, jelly shoes, leg warmers and stirrup pants.

Maggie Speaks and Brass From the Past will play on the block party's North Stage at noon and 4 p.m., respectively. The Breakfast Club, a Michael Jackson impersonator and the Hair Band Night will perform on the South Stage at noon, 3 and 4 p.m., respectively.

The Teen Battle of the Bands competition will be held at 2 p.m. in the parking lot of Subway, 17217 Oak Park Ave. Feelgood Unplugged will then perform at 5 p.m., following the end of the contest.

The block party's KidZone also will have an '80s flavor to it. Activities include decade-appropriate dancing and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle's Totally Rad Training Camp, as well as a giant slide, mini-golf, crafts and a variety of rides and inflatables.

Other block party festivities will include a classic car show and a bean bag tournament. A free trolley also will run from the 80th Avenue Metra station to the event on Oak Park Avenue, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Unfortunately, the Downtown Tinley Block Party is not a pet-friendly event, so keep your dogs, cats, Care Bears, Monchhichis, Popples and My Little Ponies at home.

Downtown Tinley Block Party—'80s Life Amplified: The Basics

When: Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 15

Where: Oak Park Avenue, between 171st and Hickory streets

More Info: Call 708-444-5678 or go to the special events page on the village's website.

FOOTNOTES:

¹If you were born after 1985, this entire sentence appears to be written in a space alien language that's trying to pass itself off as English, because it doesn't make a lick of sense despite some words looking familiar. Any questions about the sentence's content should be directed to your parents or an older individual who talks about how great it was seeing the Pixies live before they broke up the first time.

²And if you were able to pick up all the deep-cut '80s references, you're probably disappointed that this story's headline wasn't "Block Party Me, Amadeus!"

Image via the Village of Tinley Park