Students will raise the June 19 flag; Midsummerfest Fun: Good News, Illinois

ILLINOIS — Celebration is in the air for this week’s roundup of good news. The Illinois stories we’re spotlighting include a group of students representing their city on Juneteenth, a beloved festival filled with Scandinavian-inspired entertainment and much more.

Good Templar Park hosts the traditional Scandinavian Midsummer Festival

Good Templar Park’s 113th Svenskarnas Dag (Swedish Day) kicks off on Sunday, June 16 with food, music, dancing, children’s crafts and vikings.

The city crowns Mr. and Miss Black Aurora before the week of Juneteenth

The four new members of the Royal Court will represent Aurora’s Black community during the 2024-25 school year.

PureBerry Bowls, a women’s business, brings sweet acai to Naperville

PureBerry Acai Bowls, the brainchild of Neepa Mehta and Dorothy Sisnett, recently celebrated its grand opening.

Rax Roast Beef, A Joliet Tradition Since 1968, Still Thriving

Terry Bucciarelli, owner and operator of Joliet Rax Roast Beef, has been involved with his fast food restaurant since it opened on March 25, 1968.

Insect-loving boy, 5, finds two rare blue-eyed cicadas in Palos Heights

Lucky Jason Prange waited all year for the historic double emergence and had a blast with all the cicadas, his father said.

Want to celebrate someone or something that made you smile? Do you have your own Illinois good news story you’d like us to feature? Email [email protected]