The Village of Park Forest hosted the Snowy, Sips & Eats: Black Business on Saturday morning to round out the community's slate of special programming to celebrate Black History Month. 

The free event, organized by Park Forest Community Relations Coordinator Evelyn Randle, was aimed to introduce area residents to the host of Black-owned businesses that currently call the Village's downtown home. Roughly 40 people participated in walking tours along Main Street, Cunningham Drive, and Lester Road, where some businesses held special hours during the event.

Randle said several businesses, including All-Out Smoke Pit, Dulce by Dori, Vintredni, and Wings Glore, offered tastings. Other businesses, like Nabada Massage LLC., offered 15-minute chair massages, and State Farm Insurance Agent Danielle Dixon's office provided free giveaways for participants. 

"Sometimes when you talk to people, they'll say, 'I didn't know we had that in the DownTown,'" Randle said. "That was the goal of this pop-up to highlight Black businesses because it is Black History Month but really showcase that we do have businesses in the DownTown."

Randle said there are over 60 Black-owned businesses in Park Forest's DownTown, including several that utilize the shared kitchen space provided by culinary incubator Poppin Plates. She said 22 Black-owned businesses participated in the Snowy, Sips & Eats: Black Business event.

"I'm so grateful to all of the businesses that participated in the event over the weekend," Randle said. "We did questionnaires and even provided gift cards to the participants to win from various businesses in the DownTown."

Randle encourages residents to shop local whenever they can.

"I can't stress the importance of spending your money in your community," Randle said. "Before you leave the Village to shop, take a stop in the DownTown and the other shopping areas in Park Forest and see what your community has to offer."

For more information about Park Forest's DownTown businesses, click here.