Will County Gazette

Illinois Senate Minority Leader John Curran and State Representative Nicole La Ha are inviting families to attend the annual Children’s Safety Expo in Darien. The event is scheduled for Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at Lace Elementary School.

The expo will feature demonstrations from Brookfield Zoo Ambassador Animals, a “Touch a Truck” experience, face painting, a fire safety puppet show, and various giveaways. The event is free to the public.

“Making our communities more safe for our families is one of the top priorities of our legislators,” said Curran. “The Expo is a fun free event for families to come together for educational exhibits, refreshments and special giveaways.”

Scheduled activities include Brookfield Zoo Ambassador Animals at 9:00 a.m., Darien Police K-9 demonstration at 9:30 a.m., and Traveling World of Reptiles at 10:00 a.m. Drawings for giveaways will begin at 11:45 a.m.

Children attending the expo can participate in the popular “Touch a Truck” demonstrations where they can explore vehicles such as squad cars, firetrucks, snowplows, and even see a UCAN medical helicopter. Local professionals will be present to answer questions about their equipment and work. Additional hands-on activities and information on helpful programs will be available.

“I’m excited to welcome families from across our community to this year’s Children’s Safety Expo,” said Rep. La Ha. “It’s a great opportunity for kids to have fun while also learning valuable lessons about safety.”

A wide range of organizations will participate in the expo including local police departments, fire protection districts, county agencies, state offices such as the Illinois Secretary of State Organ Donor Program and Illinois State Police, community groups like YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and Scouting America, health providers like Meridian Health and Superior Ambulance, educational institutions such as University of Illinois Extension and The Field Museum, among others.

More information about the event is available on senatorcurran.com or replaha.com. Leader Curran’s office can be reached at 630-914-5733; Rep. LaHa’s office number is 630-410-8466.

Curran has represented Illinois’ 41st Senate District since his election in 2017 as a Republican following Christine Radogno's tenure.