Orland Park, Illinois, offers a wide range of activities that make it a great place to live, work, and relax. Whether you’re interested in outdoor recreation, dining, or local entertainment, here’s a look at some of the top things to do around Orland Park.
Explore Outdoor Spaces
Orland Park is known for its well-maintained parks and recreation areas. Centennial Park is a local favorite with walking trails, athletic fields, a lake, and a public aquatic center that’s perfect for families in the summer. Lake Sedgewick, located within the park, is ideal for fishing, paddle boating, and scenic picnics. For golf enthusiasts, Silver Lake Country Club and George W. Dunne National Golf Course provide beautiful greens and challenging play.
Enjoy Shopping and Dining
Orland Square Mall is the main shopping hub, offering popular retail stores, restaurants, and cafes. The surrounding Orland Park Crossing adds more options with boutique shops and locally owned eateries. After a day of shopping, residents and visitors often stop by popular dining spots such as Frankie’s Ristorante, Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, or Mama Maria’s for a satisfying meal.
Experience Local Entertainment
For live entertainment, Centennial Park West hosts outdoor concerts and seasonal festivals throughout the year. The Marcus Orland Park Cinema offers a comfortable setting for movie nights, while the Orland Park Cultural Arts Department organizes theater productions, art shows, and community performances. The nearby Tinley Park Amphitheatre is also a quick drive away, featuring major music acts during the summer.
Stay Active
The Village of Orland Park Recreation Department manages several facilities that keep residents active year-round. The Sportsplex offers fitness programs, basketball courts, climbing walls, and group classes for all ages. The Ice Arena provides open skate sessions and youth hockey leagues. Local trails such as the John Humphrey Complex and the Orland Park Bike Trail give walkers, runners, and cyclists plenty of space to enjoy the outdoors.
Get Involved in the Community
Orland Park’s community events bring residents together throughout the year. Popular favorites include the Independence Day Celebration, the Winter Wonderland holiday market, and the annual Taste of Orland Park, where local restaurants showcase their best dishes. Farmers markets in warmer months make it easy to enjoy fresh produce and support local vendors.
Frequently asked questions about things to do in Orland Park
What is there to do in Orland Park for free?
Quite a bit, actually. Centennial Park is free to visit and offers walking trails, athletic fields, and access to Lake Sedgewick for fishing and picnics. The Centennial Park West Concert Series runs on select summer evenings with free outdoor performances, and Movies in the Park offers free screenings on three dates in June, July, and August. The Concerts in the Park series on Thursday evenings through the summer is also free to attend. The farmers markets that run through the warmer months are free to browse. For families, the village's playgrounds, the Orland Park Bike Trail, and the open spaces at Centennial Park are all accessible year-round at no cost. The Orland Grassland Nature Preserve, managed by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is another free option for those who want to walk or explore a more natural setting.
What are the best things to do in Orland Park with kids?
The Centennial Park Aquatic Center is one of the top picks for families with younger children during the summer months. The Sportsplex offers a climbing wall, basketball courts, and open gym time for kids of different ages. Marcus Orland Park Cinema is a reliable option for a rainy day, and the village's Movies in the Park events are a casual, low-cost evening out. Dave and Buster's at Orland Square offers arcade games and entertainment for older kids, and Space Golf provides a blacklight mini golf experience that tends to go over well with all ages. The summer concert and festival calendar is also family-friendly, with the Independence Day Celebration on July 4 and the Taste of Orland Park in late July and early August drawing large crowds.
Is Orland Park a good place to live?
Orland Park is consistently regarded as one of the stronger communities in the south suburbs of Chicago. It offers well-maintained parks and recreation facilities, a strong local events calendar, and a growing range of dining and shopping options. The village has seen meaningful investment in recent years, including the ongoing Downtown Orland Park development near 143rd Street and LaGrange Road, which is expected to add restaurants, retail, and a walkable entertainment district to the area. For those working in Chicago, the 143rd Street Metra station provides direct rail access to the city. Families tend to be drawn to the community for its public facilities, the variety of year-round programming through the Recreation Department, and the overall feel of a well-managed suburb with an active community calendar. The area also sits close to quality medical care, including the University of Chicago Medicine Center for Advanced Care located within the downtown development footprint.
What parks are in Orland Park, IL?
Centennial Park is the largest and most central, offering trails, athletic fields, a public aquatic center, and access to Lake Sedgewick. The park also includes Centennial Park West, which serves as an outdoor venue for concerts and seasonal events. The Dogout Dog Park gives residents a dedicated off-leash space for pets. Beyond village-maintained parks, the Orland Grassland Nature Preserve, managed by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, offers over 900 acres of restored prairie and wetland for hiking and wildlife viewing. The Orland Park Bike Trail connects several areas of the village for walkers, runners, and cyclists. The John Humphrey Complex on the west side of the village also provides fields and open space for athletic use.
What summer events happen in Orland Park in 2026?
The 2026 summer calendar from the Village of Orland Park includes several recurring events. The Centennial Park West Concert Series offers free evening performances on June 20, July 11, and August 28, all presented by Wells Fargo. Concerts in the Park runs on Thursday evenings through the summer at Centennial Park, with tribute acts and cover bands each week. Movies in the Park screens free films on June 15, July 20, and August 10. The Independence Day Celebration is scheduled for July 4, with the Veterans Liberty Run the evening before on July 3. The Taste of Orland Park, presented by Northwestern Medicine, runs July 31 through August 2, with local restaurants participating across the three days. National Night Out Against Crime takes place on August 4.
What new restaurants have opened in Orland Park recently?
Two notable additions have joined the Orland Park dining scene since 2025. Fogo de Chao, the Brazilian steakhouse known for its tableside churrasco service and seasonal Market Table, opened at 15407 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park Place in May 2025. The Original Pancake House also reopened in October 2025 after relocating to a new space at 16153 S. LaGrange Road. Looking ahead in 2026, Weber Grill Restaurant is set to open as part of the Downtown Orland Park development near LaGrange Road and 143rd Street, bringing an 8,500-square-foot dining venue with a hands-on cooking school to the area.
What is Orland Park known for?
Orland Park is best known as one of the more well-rounded communities in the south suburbs of Chicago. It draws residents and visitors for its parks and recreation infrastructure, including Centennial Park and the Sportsplex, and for a shopping corridor along LaGrange Road that anchors much of the area's retail and dining activity. The annual Taste of Orland Park festival is one of the most recognized community events in the southwest suburbs. The village also has a reputation for being family-friendly, with a strong Recreation Department that runs year-round programming across fitness, aquatics, athletics, and the arts. In recent years, Orland Park has gained attention for its downtown development project near 143rd Street and LaGrange Road, which is bringing new restaurants, retail, and a walkable district to a community that has traditionally been centered around its suburban shopping corridors.
What is the best time of year to visit Orland Park?
Summer is the most active season, with the bulk of the village's outdoor events, aquatic center programming, and free concerts concentrated between June and August. If you are coming specifically for events, the Taste of Orland Park in late July and early August is one of the most popular weekends of the year. Fall is a good time for quieter visits, with the trails and parks still accessible and the holiday market typically running later in the season. Winter offers the Ice Arena for open skate sessions, and the Sportsplex stays active year-round. Spring tends to bring farmers markets back online and is when the village's parks and trails see renewed foot traffic as the weather improves.
If you’re considering making Orland Park your home, reach out to Aaron Gaines, your Orland Park real estate agent. Aaron can help you find the right neighborhood and property to match your lifestyle. Contact him today to learn more about real estate in Orland Park, IL.
