Type: Park's Department

On Friday, October 22, 2021 the Jean Shepherd Community Center will host the City of Hammond’s Monster Mash, a Halloween dance for all ages from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Costume contests, games, music by DJ Casey Ramos and more! The cost for dinner is $5 per person and includes hot dog, chips, cookie and soda. Anyone 18 and under require parent/guardian present. The Jean Shepherd Community Center is located at 3031 J.F. Mahoney Drive. Please call (219) 554-0155 with any questions.

You’ve been invited to the Dunn Speakeasy for the wedding of the year! In this “married to the mob” event, you’ll never know who to trust. With the two families merging together, someone is bound to lose power, which means someone else will lose their life! Get on the trolley and solve this case with your fellow detectives.

Dress like the cat’s meow for this mafia wedding! Flapper dresses, zoot suits, feather boas and headbands, pinstriped suits and fedoras are all appropriate. Traditional wedding attire is nifty too!

Tickets include a three-course dinner and entertainment.
Early bird tickets (by or before September 24th): $45
Regular Tickets (after September 24th to October 8th): $50
Cash bar available serving beer and wine.

Food will be catered by Hammond’s famous Freddy’s Steakhouse, and the entertainment is provided by Chicago Murder Mystery Company (as seen on Real Housewives of Dallas!). RSVP at the Hammond Sportsplex by October 8 by stopping by or calling Selina at (219) 853-7667 or email baezs@gohammond.com.

Mayor Thomas M. McDermott, Jr. and the City of Hammond celebrate its 8th annual Veteran Appreciation Day parade on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 10 a.m. in Hammond’s 5th and 6th districts. The parade route travels from Olcott Avenue, down 173rd Street and ends at the Hessville Park Veterans Memorial.

Some of the parade participants include members of local American Legions and VFW posts, musical entertainment from area high school bands, military vehicles, Those Funny Little People and a flyover by the Lima Lima Flight Team.

The Grand Marshal for the parade this year will be SPC 4 Dan Spitale, US Army. Specialist Spitale served in the Vietnam era and was drafted on April Fool’s Day 1968 in the biggest draft since WWII. Dan did his Basic Training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Advance Infantry Training (AIT) in the Tigerland section of Fort Polk, Louisiana. For eleven months, Specialist Spitale served as a weapons specialist and was shipped to Kaiserslautern, Germany and then on to Baumholder, Germany. He served in Germany when Russia was taking over Czechoslovakia in 1969. Specialist Spitale served for two years and left the Army in June, 1970. Upon arriving back in the United States, Dan secured a position in the Inland Steel Power Plant where he worked for 31 years. Dan has been a Realtor for over 35 years and has been a member of the Hammond City Council serving Hammond residents as Council-at-Large for the last 14 years. Dan has been married to his wife, Michelle, for over 40 years and they have two adult children.

Join us to honor veterans with a short program to immediately follow the parade at the Hessville Park Veteran Memorial at 173rd Street & Kennedy Avenue.

For more information on participating or sponsoring the parade, contact the Hammond Parks Department at (219) 853-7708.

To enter your organized group into the parade, fill out our online entry form here.

Mayor Thomas M. McDermott, Jr. and the Hammond Holiday Parade Committee invite you to attend the 2021 Hammond Holiday Parade on Saturday, Dec. 4 beginning at 10a. The parade starts at Gavit High School, 1670 – 175th Street, heads east to Indpls. Blvd. turns north on Indpls. Blvd. and proceeds down Indpls. Blvd. to end at the Hammond Sportsplex between 167th and 165th Streets.

The parade’s Grand Marshal this year is the cast from the Towle Theater’s “Fabulous 50’s Christmas” musical. Those Funny Little People and area high school marching bands will also provide entertainment.

Before the parade, jump in on the Santa Sprint Fun Run! This one-mile run starts at 175th & Indianapolis and ends in front of the Sportsplex just past 165th Street. Shirts will be available for purchase online and at the event. There is no cost to enter, simply register at the event or pre-register here.

If your business/organization wishes to enter a float, vehicle or walking group in the parade, find the online participation form at https://www.gohammond.com/hppf/

Call (219) 853-7708 for more information. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Participation entry deadline is November 19.