Dapper Dad
By Sherry Thomas
By Sherry Thomas
We’ve had our fair share of raindrops on roses already this year. But with June sunshine and Father’s Day festivities upon us, it’s time to celebrate some of Dad’s favorite things.
At Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort, those things include BMWs on borrow, bourbon tastings and BBQ abounding, and bright bow ties for fathers and sons alike. This “adrenaline-fueled” event is aptly dubbed “Bimmers, BBQ, and Bow Ties,” and General Manager Steven Ellingsen says it’s expected to be even bigger than last year’s inaugural Father’s Day fête.
“Last year our big tag line was bringing back traditions,” says Ellingsen. “And since the resort is turning 30 this year, we’re carrying that forward even more in 2017. When the resort was built, we had a lot of these kinds of these old-fashioned resort-style family events. Our goal is to return to that.”
The event will start at 11 a.m. and continue to 3 p.m. under the resort’s white pavilion tent along the picturesque Willow Crest Golf Club with activities designed to please every member of the family.
Car enthusiasts will enjoy complimentary test drives of the world’s best BMWs. There will be bourbon tastings and cigar rolling, a gourmet BBQ lunch, and men’s styling and bow tie demos from Trunk Club. Add some live Dixieland music, a luxury sports car show, craft beer, yoga golf demos, a kids’ arts and crafts tent, pony rides, and you’ve got a day to remember.
“The plan is to deliver an incredible Father’s Day experience that can’t be found anywhere else,” Ellingsen explains. “We are pairing some of Dad’s most luxurious experiences together on one day, in one location, for one ticket price. However, for as much as this is a Father’s Day event for all generations, we want to make sure it’s equally as much a family event. There will be lots of things for kids to do out here.”
More than 500 people are expected to attend and participate in what Ellengsen hopes will become a new family tradition.
“This is what the resort was created for,” he adds. “And if it’s as popular as last year, it could evolve into another car-related event here at the resort later this fall.”
Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center is located at 3500 Midwest Road in Oak Brook, oakbrookhillsresort.com, 630-850-5555. Partial proceeds from the event will benefit Lemons of Love (LOL), a non-profit organization that provides handmade care packages for chemotherapy patients. lemonsoflove.org
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