Excerpt from the ChicagoTribune.com:

The Antioch Firefighters Association will host an annual event called Firefighter’s Street Dance from 5 p.m. to midnight Sept. 12 in downtown Antioch. The Firefighter’s Street Dance is historically significant in the community of Antioch, according to Chris Lienhardt, deputy fire chief.

Antioch Firefighters Association also hosts a pancake breakfast, which has been successful, but when the 100-year anniversary for the department was approaching, they decided to add another event and settled on the Firefighter’s Street Dance.

“We brought back the dance on the eve of our 100-year anniversary,” Lienhardt said. “We raised a lot of money, enough money to purchase an ambulance, so we’ve kept it and it continues to be a major fundraiser.”

The event will offer food from BBQ’d Productions, Wings Etc., The Mexican Paradise Cafe and Ellie’s Deli. Beer and pop may also be purchased, and proceeds are given to the Antioch Firefighters Association’s fundraising initiative. Three bands will be performing including Big Timber, Goroo and Hairbanger’s Ball.

“When we brought it back originally we wanted to have a family-friendly event. Firemen’s Dance was the thing in the summertime,” Lienhardt said. “We wanted that atmosphere that you could bring your kids to and it felt like a block party. We’re crossing our fingers for typical weather in September instead of the 39-degree weather we had last year.”

Tags: Antioch Firefighters Association, Chris Lienhardt, Firefighter's Street Dance