Oak Park's largest block party returns to Barrie Park on Saturday, Sept. 12, with five hours of live music, kids' activities and free bike helmets.

BarrieFest, hosted by the South East Oak Park Community Organization (SEOPCO), runs from noon to 5 p.m. at the park at 1011 S. Lombard Ave. The Village of Oak Park said on X the event is billed as Oak Park's largest block party. Admission is free.

The musical lineup includes Cheryl Tomblin, Victoria Storm, School of Rock and the Comet Cats, with DJ Bounce House performing between sets, according to SEOPCO's event page. Kids can pick from two bounce houses, a climbing wall, the Oak Park Public Library Book Bike and a fire engine courtesy of the Oak Park Fire Department.

The Village of Oak Park will staff resource tables at the festival. The Oak Park Public Health Department plans to provide cycling and e-ride safety information along with free bike helmets while supplies last, according to a Village Facebook post. Forest Park Bank is the presenting sponsor.

SEOPCO is an all-volunteer nonprofit founded in 2003 by neighborhood activists after a years-long environmental cleanup at Barrie Park.

Coal tar contamination from an early-1900s manufactured gas plant was discovered at the site in 1998, according to SEOPCO's history page. The remediation replaced 350,000 tons of soil at a cost of $100 million. The park reopened on Sept. 10, 2005, after nearly six years of closure.

In August 2025, Village President Vicki Scaman proclaimed Sept. 6, 2025, as SEOPCO Day in Oak Park, marking the group's 20th anniversary as a state-registered nonprofit. The proclamation cited SEOPCO's "two decades of neighborhood leadership, resilience, and community pride."

Oak Park Township sent staff to BarrieFest in September 2024, a sign the event draws participation beyond the immediate neighborhood.

Free bike helmets are available while supplies last.