TNO FAQ

How does the dine-around program work?

$25 booklets containing 4 dine-around tickets are available for purchase at the Downtown Oak Park ticket tent on Westgate Street on Thursday nights from 5pm to 8:45pm. Tickets are good for items off the Thursday Night Out menu at participating establishments. Buy your tickets, pick your items off the menu, exchange your tickets for those items at the participating restaurants, then enjoy your meal outside at tables along Marion Street while you listen to local musicians!

For every two ticket booklets purchased, customers receive one complimentary $5 DTOP gift certificate good at participating shops through August 29th!

Plus, look inside the booklet for a special offer from Comedy Plex - One free ticket to their Thursday 7:30pm show! Enjoy TNO then present the coupon at Comedy Plex to redeem the offer. 

Does the dine-around menu have allergen friendly (gluten-free, peanut-free, dairy-free, vegan) options? 

Yes! Many of our participating restaurants offer options that are allergen friendly. 

Can I bring my own chair to TNO?

Please do! We have chairs and tables available on Marion Street, but we know they can only hold so many people. 

Can I bring my dog to Thursday Night Out?

Absolutely! We love to see your furry friends enjoying the event. But please remember to keep them on a leash for their safety.

Where can I use the restroom?

There is a single stall, accessible port-a-john available during the event hours in Lot 3. The nearest public restroom to the event area is located in Austin Gardens. If you purchase food or drinks from an establishment, you can request to use their bathroom. 

What happens if it rains?

TNO takes place rain or shine! In the case of severe weather, we move inside DTOP businesses and will make an announcement on our social media accounts. 

What is going on in Lot 10? Where can I park if I am used to parking there?

Lot 10 is undergoing a renovation throughout the summer. At various phases of construction, Lot 10 may be closed to the public for parking. There are several other parking options available in the surrounding areas, such as The Emerson garage on Westgate Street or the Lake & Forest Garage on Forest Avenue. We also highly recommend walking, biking, or using public transportation to get to the event, as these options are healthy for you and our environment!

What does "Zero-Waste Event" mean?

Downtown Oak Park is committed to implementing sustainable practices to combat the amount of waste events can generate. This year, we requested all participating businesses at Thursday Night Out use compostable or recyclable containers to help divert these resources away from landfills. We have staffed waste stations set up throughout the event area to help attendees sort their waste into the correct containers for diversion. We provide a QR code linked to the TNO menu for attendees to cut down on the number of physical, paper menus used each week and we encourage those who do use a physical menu to either reuse it the following week or to recycle them at the end of the evening. Thank you for helping us in these efforts by taking the time to correctly dispose of any materials in their proper receptacles!

How can my non-profit organization participate?

Please contact to jayne@downtownoakpark.net for more information on participating in Thursday Night Out. 

How can my band be considered for Thursday Night Out?

Each year we book a mix of new and returning artists and we prioritize diversity in genres so we can provide the community a wide variety of high-quality music throughout the summer. Please submit your band information, including recordings or videos of performances for review, to jayne@downtownoakpark.net in January to be considered for the upcoming season.