Editing Oak Park, Illinois (section)

== Arts and culture ==
{{See also|Bellissima Opera}}
Oak Park has an active arts community, resulting in part from its favorable location adjacent to Chicago ({{convert|7|mi}} west of the "Loop") as well as the village's connections to international figures in the visual, literary, and performing arts such as [[Ernest Hemingway]], [[Frank Lloyd Wright]], [[Betty White]], and [[Tymoteusz Karpowicz]]. This tradition continues into the present, as Oak Park is home to numerous theater, music, dance, and fine-arts professionals. The arts district on Harrison Street, bounded by Austin Avenue to the east and Ridgeland Avenue to the west, features boutique galleries, shops, and restaurants.

Oak Park is home to several professional dance and theatre companies, including [[Circle Theatre Chicago|Circle Theatre]], [[Oak Park Festival Theatre]], [https://abausa.com/what-to-see-and-do-in-oak-park-illinois/ Laurel Theater], and [http://momentadances.org/ Momenta] resident dance company of The [http://www.academyofmovementandmusic.com/ Academy of Movement and Music]. Oak Park, with neighboring River Forest, also plays host to the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest, which celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2009.

Oak Park is also home to [[WEUR]], broadcasting from the former [[Oak Park Arms Hotel]] at 1490 AM since 1950. Formerly WPNA and run by the [[Polish National Alliance]], the station's programming serves the diverse linguistic and cultural communities in the [[Chicago metropolitan area]] (in the late-1960s, WPNA had the only "underground" disc jockey in Chicago, Scorpio). The [[Oak Park Art League]] (OPAL), a nonprofit visual arts center founded after World War I (renamed in 1970), provides classes, workshops, lectures, demonstrations, and exhibitions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oakparkartleague.org/ |title=Oak Park Art League |access-date=July 6, 2015 |archive-date=July 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707190306/http://www.oakparkartleague.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 1921, OPAL has been providing opportunities for arts engagement and cultural enrichment. Over 4,500 artists participate in OPAL's events each year.

Oak Park has been home to numerous festivals and holiday observances. The July 4 celebration featuring fireworks draws thousands to the Oak Park-River Forest High School football stadium. A Day in Our Village, held in June, allows local groups to set up tables to seek members.