This Week In Street Fests: Ribfest, Blues Fest, Midsommarfest
By Samantha Abernethy in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 6, 2013 8:40PM
Ribfest
Meat and music. Do we need to say more? Ok, fine we will. Good meat and good music. Is that enough? If you're not sure which booth to try, check our list of Chicago's best barbecue joints and hunt down their booths. As for music, we'll be front and center for We Were Promised Jetpacks because we were promised they'd rock our ribs off on Sunday evening. Other headliners include The Features, Mucca Pazza, California Wives, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit and Bobby Bare Jr. Professional eaters will also be "performing," including champion Joey Chestnut. RibMania pro eating competition is at 6 p.m. on Friday.
Ribfest is on Lincoln Avenue just north of Irving Park Road and west of Damen Avenue. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, and from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Chicago Blues Fest
The annual Chicago Blues Festival will have you singing the opposite of the blues this weekend with four days of events downtown, the largest free blues festival in the world. There's a killer music lineup, and be sure to check out the future of blues at the Blues Kids Foundation tent.
Chicago Blues Festival is in Millennium Park at Randolph Street on Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event continues from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Midsommarfest
Our favorite part of this festival is the shopping. Bonus: If you spend $30 at local shops, you get a free beer. The entertainment is family friendly and fun, and the music is populated by the city's top cover bands, bringing you The Talking Heads (This Must Be The Band) and eighties tunes. Don't miss the ABBA Salute on Saturday night, since Swedish pop is a must for this Swedish fest. We'll also try to stop by on Saturday at noon for the Ruff n' Stuff Pet Parade.
Midsommarfest is on Clark Street between Balmoral and Catalpa. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Old Town Art Fair/Wells Street Art Festival
Yes, there are two art fairs happening in Old Town this weekend. They're different, but they're close enough that you can enjoy both in one trip. The Old Town Art Fair features jazz music and a gorgeous garden walk. The Wells Street Art Festival features pop music (we're excited to see 90s queen Sophie B. Hawkins on Saturday afternoon), and if you go on Sunday afternoon, be sure to lay down your bids at the Wells Street silent auction.
The Old Town Art Fair is at Lincoln Avenue and Wisconsin Street. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Wells Street Art Festival is on Wells Street between North Avenue and Division Street. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Printers Row Lit Festival
Word lovers unite at this South Loop celebration of literature. Bring your reading glasses, a bookbag and a notebook, and indulge in poetry and prose.
The Printers Row Lit Festival is on and around Dearborn Street between Congress and Polk. The fest runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.