The Festival Of Aloha Brings The Pacific To Lincoln Square

By Rob Christopher in Arts & Entertainment on May 23, 2012 2:20PM

We know: your Hawaiian vacation plans fell through this year, and even making it to out to Tiki Terrace in Des Plaines has proven difficult. But as long as you can get to Lincoln Square you can still get a taste of the islands.

The Festival of Aloha, held May 24-27 at the Old Town School of Folk Music, will feature dozens of workshops and concerts celebrating the music and traditions of Hawaii and other Pacific Islanders. It kicks off Thursday night with a sacred ceremony including traditional `oli (chanting) and hula (dance), plus music from Drums of Tahiti. Other concerts range from a Hawaiian-style jam and dance party (no Jack Johnson but still nice and mellow no doubt) to the melodic stylings of ukulele star Daniel Ho.

Speaking of ukes, on Saturday the festival will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world's largest ukulele lesson during an afternoon event at Welles Park. The current record of 1,547 people simultaneously playing a single composition for five minutes on the ukulele is held by Sweden. (!!) Surely Chicago can surpass that, although Hawaii tried earlier this year but failed. You can brush up on your pacific musical skills, from ukuele to open-string guitar and chanting, with the help of the festival's many workshops.

As long as we're in an island mood, did you know that Tiki Night is returning to The Whistler? Well now you do.