Summer is Just Around the Corner
By Tim State in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 6, 2008 6:30PM
It’s days like today -- when the forecast temperature of 66 degrees is twelve degrees higher than today’s normal -- that get us thinking about summer. And what do we love most about summer in the city? Street festivals! Mark your calendar know for the city’s biggest and best festivals.
- Chicago Gospel Music Fest, May 30-June 1
- Chicago Blues Fest, June 5-8
- Taste of Chicago, June 27-July 6
- Chicago Outdoor Film Fest, July 15-August 26
- Venetian Night, July 26
- Chicago Air and Water Show, August 15-17
- Viva! Chicago Latin Music Fest, August 23-24
- Chicago Jazz Fest, August 29-31
- Chicago Country Music Fest, October 11-12
The schedule of Neighborhood Festivals is after the jump.
The City’s Web listing of neighborhood festivals is a bit confusing, listing them in alphabetical order. We’ve listed there here in order by date so that you can plan ahead easier. Of course, dates and locations are subject to change.
| April | |||||
| 16th Ward Spring Fling | April 16-27 | 5401-5459 S. Western Blvd | |||
| Chicago Dia de los Ninos Parade Festival | April 26, 2008 | Harrison Park | |||
| Festival Dia de Niño (Children’s Day Festival) | April 27, 2008 | 2550 S. Pulaski | |||
| Mitzpah Day | April 27, 2008 | 7649 N. Paulina | |||
| May | |||||
| Cinco De Mayo | May 1-4 | 1600-1900 S. Sacramento Dr. (Douglas Park) | |||
| Cinco de Mayo at Salud | May 3, 2008 | Honore and Milwaukee | |||
| Alivio Y Salud | May 3 | Harrison Park | |||
| Black Thai International Arts And Crafts Fest | May 14-16 | Canal & Jackson to Van Buren St. | |||
| Columbia College's ManiFest: Urban Arts Festival | May 16, 2008 | 600 South Michigan Ave. | |||
| Chicago Mayfest | May 16-18 | 3100 N. Ashland Avenue @ Barry | |||
| Chicago Antique Market | May 24 & 25 | 1340 W. Washington-Plumber's Hall | |||
| May Fest | May 29-June 1 | 4700 N. Western/2300 W. Leland | |||
| Belmont Sheffield Music Fest | May 31-June 1 | Sheffield Between Belmont & School | |||
| Do-Division Street Fest & Sidewalk Sale | May 31 & June 1 | Division Street between Damen & Leavitt | |||
| Randolph Street Market/Chicago Antique Market | May 24 & 25 | 1350 W. Randolph (btwn. Ada & Ogden) | |||
| June | |||||
| May Fest | May 29-June 1 | 4700 N. Western/2300 W. Leland | |||
| Belmont Sheffield Music Fest | May 31-June 1 | Lakeview: Sheffield Between Belmont & School | |||
| Do-Division Street Fest & Sidewalk Sale | May 31 & June 1 | Division Street between Damen & Leavitt | |||
| Here Comes the Sun | June 1, 2008 | 1460–1499 W. Jarvis, 7360–7399 N. Greenwick | |||
| Black Thai International Arts And Crafts Fest | June 4-6 | Canal & Jackson to Van Buren St. | |||
| Jefferson Park Community Festival | June 6-8 | Higgins btwn. Milwaukee & Gale; Long btwn. Higgins & Lawrence | |||
| Art Therapy Connection’s Chalk Festival 2008 | June 7, 2008 | Oz Park, 2021 N. Burling Street | |||
| Festival Guadalupano 2008 | June 7, 2008 | 3216 East 91st Street | |||
| Pearl Fest | June 7, 2008 | 45th-47th Streets & Greenwood Ave. | |||
| The Chicago Caribbean Jerkfest | June 7, 2008 | Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph | |||
| 57th Street Art Fair | June 7 & 8 | 57th St. (Between Kenwood & Kimbark Ave.) Hyde Park Neighborhood | |||
| Community Art Fair | June 7 & 8 | Bixler Park, 57th & Kenwood | |||
| Fiesta Back of The Yards | June 7 & 8 | 1700–1959 W. 47th St. (Between Damen & Ashland) | |||
| Ribfest Chicago: Taste the Flavor of Northcenter | June 7 & 8 | 4000-4128 N. Lincoln Ave. | |||
| Chicago's Festa Pasta Vino | June 12-15 | 2400 S. Oakley | |||
| St. Michael Celebration | June 13-15 | N. Cleveland Ave. & W. Eugenie Street | |||
| Chicago Cares Serve-a-thon | June 14, 2008 | Grant Park - Lower Hutchinson | |||
| Andersonville Midsommarfest | June 14 & 15 | 5200 N. Clark | |||
| Artists of the Wall | June 14 & 15 | Lakefront (6800 N) Bench/Wall | |||
| Old Town Art Fair | June 14 & 15 | Menomonee, Lincoln Park West, Wisconsin Orleans | |||
| Wells Street Art Festival | June 14 & 15 | Wells Street btwn. North & Division | |||
| Shades of Riverview 13 | June 19-22 | 2501 W. Addison (Lane Tech College Prep Parking Lot) | |||
| Close Up 2 Smooth Jazz Festival | June 20-22 | Pritzker Park, State & Van Buren | |||
| St. Josaphat Parish 19th Annual Summerfest | June 20-22 | Belden Ave. between Southport Ave. & Wayne Ave. | |||
| Taste of Randolph Street | June 20-22 | West Randolph between Peoria & Racine | |||
| Juneteenth Festival | June 21, 2008 | Abbott Park, 49 E. 95th St. | |||
| Calumet/Giles/Prairie Historic House Walk | June 21, 2008 | 3100 S. Calumet | |||
| Chicago Summerfest | June 21 & 22 | 2200 N. Clark | |||
| Pizza Fest | June 21-22 | Lincoln Park: Racine btwn. Fullerton & Belden | |||
| River North Summer Fest | June 22, 2008 | Erie St. between Kingsbury & Larabee | |||
| NBGC Family Fest & Carnival | June 25-29 | 3900 N. Rockwell St. | |||
| Cirque Du Soleil Kooza | June 26-August 24 | United Center, Parking Lot K, 1901 Madison Ave. | |||
| Chicago Pride Fest | June 28, 2008 | North Halsted Street btwn. Addison & Grace | |||
| Belmont Art and Music Fest | June 28-29 | Belmont Avenue btwn. Damen & Leavitt | |||
| Randolph Street Market/Chicago Antique Market | June 28 & 29 | 1350 W. Randolph (btwn. Ada & Ogden) | |||
| July | |||||
| Cirque Du Soleil Kooza | June 26-August 24 | United Center, Parking Lot K, 1901 Madison Ave. | |||
| Black Thai International Arts And Crafts Fest | July 2-4 | Canal & Jackson to Van Buren St. | |||
| African/Caribbean Int’l Festival of Life | July 3-6 | Washington Park, 55th St. & Cottage Grove | |||
| Lakeview Music Fest | July 5 & 6 | Lakeview on Sheffield from Waveland to Newport | |||
| I Have A Vision Community Gospel Festival | July 12, 2008 | Grand Crossing Park, 7655 South Ingleside Avenue | |||
| I Hear The Music In The Air Gospel Festival | July 12, 2008 | Moore Park, 5058 W. Adams | |||
| K.I.D.S Zone Festival | July 12, 2008 | 6700-6900 S. Halsted Street | |||
| Mount Olive Community Youth Rally | July 12, 2008 | 5729-43 W. Chicago Ave. | |||
| Rosemoor Community Fest | July 12, 2008 | 250 E. 111th Street (Gwendolyn Brooks School) | |||
| Chicago Folk & Roots Festival | July 12 & 13 | 4400 N. Lincoln Ave. (Welles Park) | |||
| Rock Around the Block | July 12 & 13 | 3400-3600 N. Lincoln Ave. | |||
| Celebrate Clark Street Festival | July 13, 2008 | Clark Str. between Morse & Estes (6950 - 7100 N.) | |||
| Impact Chicago Tent Crusade 2008 | July 13-27 | 1800 W. 59th Str. | |||
| Abbott Park Community/Gospel Festival | July 19, 2008 | 49 E. 95th Street | |||
| Pitchfork Music Festival | July 18-20 | Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph Street | |||
| Southside Neighborhood Gospel Festival | July 19, 2008 | 6506 S. Racine (Ogden Park) | |||
| Sheffield Garden Walk & Festival | July 19 & 20 | Webster & Sheffield | |||
| Summer On Southport | July 19 & 20 | 3700-3900 N. Southport & Waveland | |||
| Chinatown Summer Fair (29th Annual) | July 20, 2008 | Wentworth from Cermak to 24th Street | |||
| Dearborn Garden Walk | July 20, 2008 | Entrance at corner of Dearborn & Goethe St. | |||
| Relay for Life of Southside Chicago | July 25 & 26 | Midway Plaisance Park | |||
| Alderman Brookins 5th Annual Family Summer Festival | July 26, 2008 | Foster Park (1440 W. 84th Street – 84th & Loomis) | |||
| Ghanafest 2008 | July 26, 2008 | 5600 S. Payne Drive (Washington Park) | |||
| Groovin On the Groove | July 26, 2008 | 4400-4500 S. Cottage Grove | |||
| Newberry Library Bughouse Square Debates | July 26, 2008 | Washington Square Park (901 N. Clark) | |||
| The New 29th Ward Annual Gospel Family Picnic & Back to School Event | July 26, 2008 | 5701 W. Jackson Blvd, Grove 12 | |||
| Chicago Temple Street Festival | July 26 & 27 | 2140 S. Archer Ave. | |||
| Edgebrook Festival 2008 | July 26 & 27 | N. Kinza Ave., N. of W. Devon Ave. and East of Metra | |||
| Randolph Street Market/Chicago Antique Market | July 26 & 27 | 1350 W. Randolph (btwn. Ada & Ogden) | |||
| State Street Family Festival | July 26 & 27 | 4900 S. State | |||
| Taste of Lincoln Avenue | July 26 & 27 | Lincoln btwn. Fullerton & Wrightwood | |||
| Wicker Park Fest | July 26 & 27 | North Damen btwn. North Ave. & Schiller | |||
| Annual Arts Adventure | July 27, 2008 | Sidewalks: Superior, State, Wabash & Chicago | |||
| Fiesta del Sol | July 31-August 3 | 1400 W. Cermak Road | |||
| August | |||||
| Cirque Du Soleil Kooza, | June 26-August 24 | United Center, Parking Lot K, 1901 Madison Ave. | |||
| Fiesta del Sol | July 31-August 3 | 1400 W. Cermak Road | |||
| Serbfest | August 1-3 | 5701 N. Redwood Dr. | |||
| Lilydale Oldtimers 26th Neighborhood Festival & Picnic | August 2, 2008 | Abbott Park, North Lawn, 49 E. 95th St. | |||
| Summer Fest West | August 2, 2008 | Garfield Park, By the Gazebo | |||
| Chicago Temple Street Festival | August 2 & 3 | 2140 S. Archer Ave. | |||
| Heritage Jazzfest Weekend | August 2 & 3 | South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 South Shore Drive | |||
| Retro On Roscoe | August 2 & 3 | 2000-2300 W. Roscoe & Damen | |||
| Belize Day in the Park | August 3, 2008 | Washington Park, 55th and Payne | |||
| Black Thai International Arts And Crafts Fest | Aug. 6-8 | Canal & Jackson to Van Buren St. | |||
| Chicago Temple Street Festival | August 8 & 9 | 2140 S. Archer Ave. | |||
| Augustfest | August 8-10 | 26th & Central Park Avenue | |||
| Caribbean Festival/Jamaican Independence Celebration | August 8-10 | Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St. | |||
| Ginza Holiday Festival | August 8-10 | 435 W. Menomonee Street, (In Historic Old Town) | |||
| Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby | August 8, 2008 | On the Chicago River (Between Columbus Dr. Bridge & Michigan Ave. Bridge) | |||
| Freewill Picnic Gospel Festival | August 9, 2008 | 2651 W. Roosevelt Road | |||
| Korean Street Festival | August 9 & 10 | 3200-3600 Bryn Mawr Ave. | |||
| Northalsted Market Days | August 9 & 10 | North Halsted btwn. Belmont & Addison | |||
| West Fest | August 9 & 10 | Chicago Ave. between Damen & Wood | |||
| Croatian Fest | August 15, 2008 | 2800-2900 S. Princeton | |||
| Edison Park Fest 2008 | August 15-17 | 6730 N. Olmsted | |||
| Northside Summerfest | August 15-17 | 4050 N. Lincoln Ave. & Belle Plaine | |||
| Our Lady of Tepeyac Summer Festival | August 15-17 | 2235 S. Albany | |||
| Viva Aztlan | August 15-17 | 1831 S. Racine Avenue (Between 18th-19th Street) | |||
| Chicago Carifete | August 16, 2008 | Midway Plaisance, 5900 S. between Cottage Grove & Stony Island | |||
| Neighborhood Gospel Festival | August 16, 2008 | 1656 W. 63rd Street | |||
| No Crime Day | August 16, 2008 | Ogden Park, 6500 S. Racine | |||
| Chicago Temple Street Festival | August 16 & 17 | 2140 S. Archer Ave. | |||
| Lincoln Park Fireman’s Cook-Off | August 16 & 17 | 2500 N. Clark | |||
| The Raven | August 16 & 17 | 4700 N. Clark | |||
| Altgeld Oldtimers Reunion | August 17, 2008 | Carver Park, 132nd Greenwood | |||
| Annual Back to School Summer Fest | August 23, 2008 | 8458 S. Mackinaw Ave. | |||
| Back to School Fun Fair/Gospel Fest | August 23, 2008 | 6200 N. Bloomingdale | |||
| Chicago Reggae Festival | August 23, 2008 | Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St. | |||
| East Side Back to School/Fun Fair | August 23, 2008 | 105th-106th Ewing | |||
| Fun Fest | August 23, 2008 | 1415 W. 104th Street | |||
| Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest | August 23 & 24 | 6900-7000 N. Glenwood Avenue & 1400 Morse Ave. | |||
| Taste of Greece 2008 | August 23 & 24 | 100–400 Blks of Halsted Street | |||
| Ukrainian Festival | August 23 & 24 | 2500 W. Grand Ave | |||
| Whole Foods Market Flavorfest | August 23 & 24 | Jonquil Park, Wrightwood/Lincoln/Sheffield | |||
| WTTW Kids Fun & Run | August 24, 2008 | Cannon Dr. South of Fullerton | |||
| Back to School Summer Fest | August 27, 2008 | 89th Street & Exchange Ave. | |||
| Dream Day Quest, Fest & Tour | August 28, 2008 | 67th S. Sacramento (Marquette Park) | |||
| Taste of Polonia | August 29-September 1 | 5216 W. Lawrence Ave. | |||
| Bash on Wabash | August 30 & 31 | Wabash between 13th St. & 14th Pl. | |||
| Randolph Street Market/Chicago Antique Market | August 30 & 31 | 1350 W. Randolph (btwn. Ada & Ogden) | |||
| September | |||||
| Black Thai International Arts And Crafts Fest | Sept. 3-5 | Canal & Jackson to Van Buren St. | |||
| German American Fest | September 5-7 | Lincoln, Leland & Western Ave. | |||
| Auburn Gresham 79th Street Renaissance Festival | September 6, 2008 | Between 79th Loomis & 79th Racine | |||
| Guinness Oyster Festival | September 6, 2008 | Roscoe St. Between Damen & Leavitt | |||
| Festival de La Villita | September 11 & 14 | 26th Street btwn. Kostner & Ogden | |||
| Independence Day Festival | September 11-14 | 2600-2400 S. California Blvd. | |||
| Chicago’s Taste of Romania | September 12 & 14 | 3400-3600 N. California Ave. | |||
| The Edgewater Gr Alley | September 13, 2008 | 6200 N.–1400 W. (Intersection of Granville & Glenwood) | |||
| Wine Crush in Old Town | September 13, 2008 | Wells Street btwn. North Ave. & Evergreen | |||
| Lake View East Festival of the Arts | September 13 & 14 | Along Broadway from Belmont to Roscoe | |||
| Lincoln Park Art Faire | September 13 & 14 | 2045 N. Lincoln Park West | |||
| Renegade Craft Fair | September 13 & 14 | Division Street between Damen & Wood | |||
| Winefest | September 19-21, | 3840 N. Lincoln Ave. | |||
| 2nd Ward Community Health & Fitness Awareness Day | September 20, 2008 | 2114 S. Wabash | |||
| Annual Hyde Park Arts & Crafts Adventure | September 26 & 27 | 55th & Lake Park Avenue, Outdoor Courtyard, University of Chicago Hyde Park Shopping Center | |||
| Oktoberfest Chicago | September 26-28 | 3000 N. Lincoln Ave. @ Southport | |||
| Randolph Street Market/Chicago Antique Market | September 27 & 28 | 1350 W. Randolph (btwn. Ada & Ogden) | |||
| 57th Street Children’s Book Fair | September 29, 2008 | East 57th Street, between Kimbark and Dorchester | |||
| Taste of Polonia | August 29-September 1 | 5216 W. Lawrence Ave. | |||
| October | |||||
| Randolph Street Market/Chicago Antique Market | October 25 & 26 | 1350 W. Randolph (btwn. Ada & Ogden) | |||
| November | |||||
| Dia de los Muertos/ Day of the Dead | November 3, 2008 | 1119 W. Cullerton (Dvorak Park) & 1831 S. Racine (Casa Aztlan) |