Big Attendance and Happy Kids at Discover Tinley Park Expo

Happy kids with balloon hats roamed the aisle of the Tinley Park Convention Center on Sunday as they visited local businesses exhibiting at the Discovery Tinley Park Business Expo.

Standing and giggling in delight -- Tinley Park residents watched Dale Obrochta twist balloons into an array of cartoon characters.

Obrochta, a 30-year veteran of balloon entertaining, interacted with the audience’s members as he twisted balloons into a variety of creations.  At one point, Obrochta joked with one 7-year old girl and asked, “Do you like boys your age?  I have a little boy at home your age and I'm trying to marry him off.  Are you interested?”

Obrochta has been part of the Tinley Park Business Expo since the beginning. “I’ve only missed two Expos -- once because of a scheduling conflict and most recently because of budget cutbacks," says Obrochta. “It is good to be back.”

The staff, volunteers, and even the business community make entertaining at the Tinley Park Business Expo enjoyable. “It’s nice when staff stops by to ask  "Do you need something?"  Too often convention staff doesn’t acknowledge the entertainment and just them checking in to make sure that I am okay makes me feel appreciated," says Obrochta.

“Each year I arrive early to see who is participating in the business expo and over the years I have made many friends," states Obrochta. “It is nice to know that so many people remember me and appreciate what I bring to the expo."

Obrochta grew up in Oak Forest, and now lives in Orland Hills.  In years past, he has worked with the Tinley Park D.A.R.E. program, entertained at the Tinley Park Library, and has entertained at numerous private parties for local residents. “My community library, school system, and my son’s baseball team are all part of the Tinley Park Community."

Obrochta learned from world-class jugglers, unicyclists, magicians, clowns, balloonists, fire-eaters, theatrical entertainers, and vaudevillians. “I did not realize at the time how lucky I was to be working with such talented people and learning the skills and techniques that were freely taught to me. I have used all my entertainment skills over the years, but have decided I would rather be a master of one form of entertainment, than a jack-of-all-trades. So I became a master balloonist.”

For four hours straight Obrochta joked, twisted, and kept local families entertained.  At one point, he was able to persuade the Tinley Park Bulldog Cheerleaders to customize a cheer for him.  Obrochta even kidded with exhibitors as they exited the building, “Hey, where are you going?  It's only ten after three.” The expo ended at 3:00 p.m., but Obrochta was assuring the last family that he wasn’t running off. They would get their balloons.

Obrochta is already looking forward to next year’s Discover Tinley Expo, and cannot wait to entertain the residents of Tinley Park again.