This Week in Street Fests
By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 9, 2011 9:20PM
Let's start this weekend's roundup by heading to Lincoln Square, where German American Fest kicks off at 5 p.m. and runs throughout the weekend. If you attended Maifest in the same location in June, this is the exact same thing, only a few degrees cooler. Wear your lederhosen. (Lincoln Square; 5-11 p.m. tonight; Noon-11 p.m. Saturday; Noon-10 p.m. Sunday.)
Head southwest to the annual Festival de La Villita, which gets started at 6 p.m. tonight. On Sunday, the festival is the end location of the 26th Street Parade, Chicago's second largest parade and one of the largest celebrations of Hispanic culture in the U.S. That parade starts at Albany at Noon on Sunday and proceeds west on 26th Street to Kostner. (2600 S. Kostner; 6-11 p.m. tonight; Noon - 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.)
The 7th annual Lakeview East Festival of the Arts will showcase over 150 juried artists from across the nation and locally. This two day free event will feature compelling works of art ranging in paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, fiber, fine craft, installation and numerous mediums. Two days of music featured on two stages and throughout the festival. A dedicated children's area with activities planned for the family to enjoy. Local cuisine from area restaurants is complemented with a beer and wine garden. (Broadway and Belmont Avenues' 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday; 10 p.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday.)
The 2011 Festival on Prairie Avenue transports visitors to Prairie Avenue in the 19th century with activities spotlighting a unique variety of art, history, architecture, music and family-style play. A special emphasis of this year's festival will pay tribute to the 175th anniversary of the Henry B. Clarke House, Chicago's oldest (1836) and the 125th anniversary of the John G. Glessner House, an internationally-known architectural treasure (1886). (18th Street and Prairie Avenue, Noon- 6 p.m. Saturday.)
The Renegade Craft Fair will once again take over Division Street in Wicker Park. Always free-to-attend, Chicago’s biggest and best indie-craft event will feature over 300 of today’s brightest makers of handmade goods, live entertainment, hands-on crafting workshops and more. (Division Street from Damen to Paulina; 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.)
The Wine Crush in Old Town has been re-branded the Wells Street Fall Festival. Everything else about the festival is still the same. (Wells Street between North Avenue and Schiller Avenue.; 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. - 8 p.m Sunday.)