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Community Corner

Ticket to Oak Fest: 'Idol' Star, Hometown Hero Takes Stage Tonight

No stranger to the spotlight, Oak Forest native Chris Medina still has time to sing for his hometown.

Who: Chris Medina and his band The Able Body
Where: The Main Stage
When: Doors open at 6 p.m., show starts at 7:30, until 10 p.m.

Why You Can't Miss It:
Former American Idol star Chris Medina may be adored by thousands of fans in Norway, but he's still just a humble guy from Oak Forest and sing you a song. And that's just what he'll do tomorrow night, except it'll be for his hometown.

From 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., the young singer will kick off the with a performance on the main stage.

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“He's a great singer, very energetic and enthusiastic,” said Oak Forest Mayor Hank Kuspa, who's thrilled to see Medina play tonight. “He's got a huge heart.”

Medina's feeling a little jittery about the show.

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"I played in front of 120,000 strangers in Norway, but I feel more pressure putting on a good show in my hometown, because this is where I live," Medina said. "I don't have to face the people in Norway day-to-day.

"I'm always excited to play. But I'm more nervous about making them proud."

Janet Barnes, the mother of Medina's fiancé Juliana Ramos, will also attend the event for a signing of her book For Juliana: Almost to the Almost, One Penny at a Time. After that left her with a Traumatic Brain Injury in 2009, Ramos has undergone extensive physical therapy with the support of her family, friends and Medina.

Admission is free, and food vendors will open at 6:30 p.m. in case anyone is hungry for a bite to eat before the show starts.

Oak Fest, which will be held at 159th and Central Avenue, runs from Thursday, June 30 to Monday, July 4. Mega passes are on sale at city hall, for $50 until June 30. At the gate, the mega pass price increases to $75 for carnival rides. The passes are good for all six days, and are available at city hall. Tickets for individual days are $25. Bring a buddy on Friday, and your second ticket is free. Saturday, from 11 a.m. to noon is for children with special needs only.

Check back with Oak Forest Patch, where we'll feature the events you can't miss (though the whole fest sounds amazing) each morning of Oak Fest.

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