This Weekend in Street Fests

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 26, 2011 10:00PM

We've got a couple of good old-fashioned Catholic carnivals in this week's recommendations.

Let's start in Old Irving Park and the annual St. Viator's Rock the Block at Addison Street and Kedvale Avenue. The festivities kick off at 11 a.m. tomorrow and through 11 p.m.

Over in the Ukrainian Village, the seventh annual St. Helen Carnival brings carnival rides, games, live music and dance performances, a beer garden, food concessions, and more. Purchase a $40 “mega pass,” which will entitle the holder to unlimited rides for the duration of the festival. All proceeds benefit St. Helen School. (5-10 p.m. tonight. Noon-10 p.m. Saturday. Noon-9 p.m. Sunday.)

StreeterFest kicks off tomorrow and Sunday from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. at Lake Shore Park (808 N. Lake Shore Dr.). This inaugural festival, sponsored by SOAR (Streeterville Organization of Active Residents), features food, live music and artisans. A hint to the organizers: don't play up Streeterville as "Chicago's most 'Manhattan-like' neighborhood." Especially given how some folks get in this city even being compared to New York City. The neighborhood has a vibrant history. Learn it.

A little bit to the west and south is Taste of Greece in Greektown. Or "Chicago's most 'Greece-like' neighborhood," if you prefer. See who the Italians ripped off all their style from while gorging on roast meat. (Noon-11 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday.)

Finally, the Boulevard Bash should be kicking off right now in Logan Square. Benefiting St. Luke's Lutheran Church, the music schedule for this festival is off the fucking chart. Smoking Popes and Sones de Mexico headline tonight, with Andreas Kapsalis and Goran Ivanovic opening. Tomorrow sees local Afropop stars Occidental Brothers Dance Band International and Angel Melendez & His 911 Mambo Orchestra bring the grooves. Liquid Soul closes things out Sunday. Seriously, this music lineup is stellar, with a range of music acts for everyone's tastes. (5-10 p.m. tonight. Noon-10 p.m. tomorrow. Noon-9 p.m. Sunday.)