”I planned a flash mob on the courthouse lawn.”

Jeff Cross isn’t usually a planner. But for his 30th wedding anniversary, he decided to go big. In this episode of This One Time in Kankakee, we hear the incredible true story of how a 1990s meet-cute at a Bourbonnais Blockbuster led to a secret flash mob in downtown Kankakee.

Hear how Jeff organized 50 friends and family members, dodged suspicious bailiffs while sneaking around the Courthouse bushes, and used a "fake cake" to keep his wife from ruining her own surprise. It’s a story about love, logistics, and the community coming together on Court Street.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The Origin Story: How a misheard name at the hospital made Jeff a "Kankakee legend" from birth.
• The Meet-Cute: A nostalgic look back at dating in the 90s involving Subway sandwiches and Blockbuster nametags.
• The Heist: How Jeff secured "clearance" from a local Judge and hid behind trees to keep the secret.
• The Payoff: What it takes to coordinate a dance routine in the freezing February slush.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Kankakee County Courthouse
• Knights of Columbus
• Busse & Rieck Flowers
• Subway (Bourbonnais)
• The "Eagle" distraction technique 🦅

Have a Kankakee story? We want to hear it! Email jake@milnermediapartners.com to tell us about "This one time in Kankakee..."

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