Autumn ruby and amber colors were evident on trees at Christine Thompson Park as hundreds gathered for Friday’s Gurnee Get-Together.
The family-friendly event was free to attend with live music by the classic rock band No Limit, plus lawn games and giveaways.
People brought folding chairs or rode their bikes for the two-hour event that featured visits by Gurnee’s police, fire and public works personnel. A fire truck and public works vehicle were available for family photo opportunities.
Gurnee youth royalty mixed tiaras with plastic fire hats. But Little Miss Gurnee 2025 Isabella Frankland, 7, and Tiny Miss Gurnee 2025 Sophia Russell, 4, said they preferred their rhinestone-crowned bling.
Mayor Tom Hood and wife Pam mingled with neighbors on one of the last balmy Friday nights in Lake County for 2025.
East Gurnee’s Christine Thompson Park, “is a hidden jewel,” Hood said.
According to a posted walkway sign, the park, formerly Woodlawn Park and dedicated in 1977, was renamed on Sept. 12, 1999 in memory of Christine Thompson, a Gurnee Park Board member and educator. Thompson was 57 when she died in July of 1999.
Christine Thompson Park is just south of Grand Avenue at Woodlawn Avenue and Belle Plaine Avenue, just blocks from Waukegan’s city limits.
“We’re trying to get more into the neighborhoods so we have block parties and parties like this,” Hood said. “We’re reaching throughout all of the village of Gurnee, and also here, so we can draw the neighbors out.
“Ever since COVID, there’s been a kind of reluctance for people to get together,” he continued. “This is drawing them back out to get together and have fun.”
The mayor said the future of the village, “is very bright.”
“Because that’s really what the quality of Gurnee is,” Hood said. “It’s not just the stores and things like that; it’s really people enjoying living here. And things like this, where you get to hang out with your neighbors is a way to enjoy living in the village of Gurnee.”
Back performing to a hometown audience was No Limit, described as a high-energy classic rock band.
Lake County has, “a lot of good opportunities,” for musicians and local bands, lead singer Tommy Semanic said. “There are fans of this music, so we enjoy coming up here.
No Limit’s keyboard player, Gary Rozwadowski of Gurnee, pointed out the band has played at Gurnee Days.
“I love playing for my hometown,” he said.
As No Limit performed, across the lawn Jaime Ortiz of Gurnee played a bean bag toss game with daughter Josie 7.
“It’s a good way to bring the neighborhood together,” he said. “A lot of the east side community can bond, and we see some of our neighbors that we see on a daily basis here in the neighborhood, out walking the dogs or out for a run.
“It’s good to congregate here and enjoy a good time,” Ortiz added. “We see a lot of familiar faces.”
