This week we bring you city festivals, the second in our annual trilogy of summer festival roundups. (Next week we’ll publish suburban festivals.) We have omitted hours and admission fees, if any, of individual events, due to the number of festivals listed, so make sure to call ahead for details on the festivals you want to attend.
Please also check the weekly Friday section calendar listings under Festivals in the coming weeks for updates and new inclusions.
May
BLAIR FIELD DAY, Friday; Blair Early Childhood Center, 6751 W. 63rd Pl. 312-535-2076.
GAELIC PARK IRISH FESTIVAL ’94, Friday-Monday; Chicago Gaelic Park, 6119 W. 147th St., Oak Forest. Outdoor stages with live music, carnival rides, Irish import stores, food. 708-667-9323.
VITTLES `N’ FIDDLES, Friday-Sunday; St. Viator’s Parish, 4170 W. Addison St. Live music, ethnic foods, arts and crafts/book fair, games. 312-286-4040.
BODY POLITIC STREET FESTIVAL, Saturday-Sunday; 2200 block of North Lincoln Avenue. Live jazz, blues, reggae and folk, food, children’s activities, arts and crafts. 312-868-3010.
BUDDHIST COUNCIL VISAKHA FESTIVAL, Saturday; Roosevelt High School, 3436 W. Wilson Ave. A celebration of the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. Japanese, Thai, Korean, Lao and Vietnamese entertainers, exhibitions and food from southeast Asia. 708-869-4975.
NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF KHMER ART, Saturday-Sunday; Field Museum of Natural History, Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Drive. The festival will showcase traditional Cambodian craft arts and the artists, including sculptors, painters, costume makers, photographers and mask and headdress makers, as well as performances of traditional Cambodian dance and music. 312-878-5299.
PRIMAVERA FESTIVAL, Sunday-Monday; Plaza Garibaldi, 26th Street and California Avenue. Italian food, entertainment, rodeo. 312-944-7272.
10K RIDGE RUN/MEMORIAL DAY PARADE, Monday; Ridge Park, 96th Street and Longwood Drive. 312-233-3100.
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE, by the Wellington Oakdale Old Glory Marching Society, Monday; corner of Pine Grove and Wellington Avenues. 312-327-4924.
June
CITY CHILD IN SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL, Wednesday-June 8; Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. 312-346-3278.
JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION, Wednesday; Chicago Historical Society, Clark Street at North Avenue. Tribute to African-American personal and political freedom in America, featuring music, poetry, oration and dance, with the Lincoln Park Academy Concert Dancers joining the Chicago Children’s Choir. 312-642-4600.
CADET DAY PARADE, Thursday; Columbus Drive from 11th Street to Congress Parkway. 312-744-3315.
A CELEBRATION OF THE NATIVE PEOPLES OF THE AMERICAS, sponsored by the Blackhawk Native American Education Association, June 3-4; North Park Village, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd. Arts, crafts and foods from the Native People of North America, Central and South America, storytellers, poets, performances by INKA, Blackhawk Dancers, Konojel Junam, Ecuadorian Children Dancers and a concert with Sisters in Spirit.
CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL, June 3-5; Grant Park, Jackson Boulevard and Columbus Drive. Local and national blues bands will play on three stages at this 11th year of the festival, including Melva “Chick” Rodgers, Vernon Garrett and Koko Taylor. 312-744-3370.
TASTE OF THE HEART OF ITALY, June 3-5; South Oakley Avenue (2300 west, one block east of Western Avenue) between 24th and 25th Streets. Italian neighborhood festival with live musical and comedy entertainment, family activities including magicians, face painters, animal shows and a petting zoo, food from local restaurants and outdoor Sunday mass. 312-254-6168.
PARK WEST ANTIQUES FAIR, June 4-5; Streets and alleys between Fullerton Avenue, Clark Street, Deming Place and Orchard Street. Children’s activities, entertainment, refreshments and antique dealers. 312-202-7190 or 312-477-5100.
PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE, June 4; Dearborn Street between Wacker Drive and Van Buren Street. 312-744-3315.
SCANDINAVIAN MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL, June 4; Scandinavian Country Antiques, International Antiques Centre, 2300 W. Diversey Pkwy. Featuring traditional Scandinavian costumes, music and dancing around the Maypole with Chicago’s Nordic Dancers. 708-474-3416.
GAY AND LESBIAN PRIDE PARADE, June 5; Halsted Street from Belmont Avenue to Broadway Street, south to Diversey Parkway, east to Sheridan Road. 312-348-8243.
NEUTRAL TURF CHICAGO POETRY FESTIVAL, June 5; Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. Featuring Marvn Tate and D’Settlement and Li-Young Lee, the festival will also include an open mic, a collective poem and a bad poetry pie toss. 312-278-2210.
PULLMAN DISTRICT GUIDED WALKING TOURS, June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4; beginning at the Historic Pullman Foundation’s Visitor Center, 11141 S. Cottage Grove Ave. Centennial commemoration of the 1894 Pullman strike. Area homes open to the public. Brunch and tour packages available. 312-785-8181.
RUN FOR THE ZOO/ZOOFEST ’94, June 5; Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive. 312-404-2372.
CHICAGO MUSIC ASSOCIATION MUSIC FESTIVAL, June 6; South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Drive. 312-753-0640.
FIESTAS PUERTORRIQUENAS, June 7-12; Humboldt Park, 1400 N. Sacramento Blvd. 312-292-1414.
CELEBRATE ON STATE STREET FESTIVAL, June 8-10; State Street between Wacker Drive and Van Buren Street. Entertainment by Chicago theaters and bands, food from Loop restaurants, juried art and craft show. 312-782-9160.
ST. BARTHOLOMEW ANNUAL CARNIVAL, June 8-12; 4900 W. Addison St. Family festival with rides, ethnic foods, live music and a Grand Raffle worth $5,000 in prizes. 312-286-7871.
ALCOCK’S 8TH ANNUAL BEAR AND BULL BUST, June 10; Alcock’s, 411 S. Wells St. With Bob Stroud and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Diner from WCKG-FM 105.9 and live music with “Ruckus,” WCKG-FM’s house band. Hamburgers, hot dogs, pork chops, beer booth and basketball “Pop-a-Shot” games. Benefiting efforts against multiple sclerosis. 312-922-1778.
CELEBRATION ’94, June 10-12; St. Michael’s Plaza, 1633 N. Cleveland Ave. Food, beer, live music including reggae, oldies, blues and rock ‘n’ roll, raffle. 312-266-1145.
MAYOR’S CUP YOUTH SOCCER TOURNAMENT, June 10-12; Lincoln Park, Montrose Avenue and Lake Shore Drive. 312-744-3315.
CHICAGO GOSPEL FESTIVAL, June 11-12; Grant Park, Jackson Boulevard and Columbus Drive. Gospel music on two stages and a Kid’s Fun Zone with jumping jacks, magicians and face painting. 312-744-3370.
PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE PARADE, June 11; Irving Park Road and Ravenswood Avenue. 312-744-4691.
WELLS STREET ART FESTIVAL, June 11-12; Wells Street from North Avenue to Division Street. Food, juried art show, children’s shows and activities, family entertainment. 312-951-6106.
GREATER CHICAGO JEWISH FOLK ARTS FESTIVAL, June 12; Caldwell Woods, Devon and Milwaukee Avenues. Craft and book fairs, children’s entertainment, Kosher food and music. 312-829-0344.
DANCING UNDER THE PICASSO TO THE BIG BANDS, June 13-17; Washington and Dearborn Streets. Ballroom dancing to big band music. 312-346-3278.
THEATRE ON THE LAKE, June 14-Sept. 3; Fullerton Avenue at the lakefront. 312-348-7075.
WORLD CUP PARADE, June 15; Michigan Avenue from Balbo Drive to Randolph Street. “Parade of Nations” featuring marching bands, international floats, the winners of the Mayor’s Cup Youth Soccer Tournament and large balloons of cartoon characters. Prelude to the opening ceremonies and opening game of World Cup USA 1994 at Soldier Field June 17. Additional games will be played in Chicago June 21, 26, 27 and July 2. 312-744-3370.
CHICAGO IN-WATER BOAT SHOW, (Opening Night Benefit) 5:30-10 p.m. June 16; June 17-19; North Pier, 465 E. Illinois St. Featuring model boat races, seminars, demonstrations or remote-control trucks and helicopters and The Alpha Experience, a stationary roller coaster. 312-787-6858.
ST. CLARE OF MONTEFALCO PARISH CARNIVAL, June 16-19; 5443 S. Washtenaw Ave. Music, family entertainment. 312-436-4422.
ANDERSONVILLE’S MIDSOMMARFEST, June 18-19; Clark Street between Foster and Catalpa Avenues. Entertainment, children’s activities, food, arts and crafts. 312-728-2995.
AUSTIN VILLAGE HOUSE TOUR, June 18; Austin Village. Tour features the interiors of seven architecturally significant houses in Austin Village, including two Frederick R. Schock mansions, the newly restored Columbus Park Refectory building and Austin Bank. Register at cul-de-sac at Midway Park (one block north of Lake Street) and Waller Avenue (three blocks east of Austin). Bus service and parking. 312-261-2233 or 708-848-7150.
GRANT PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL, June 18-Aug. 26; Grant Park, Jackson Boulevard and Columbus Drive. World-renowned musicians and conductors, such as Van Cliburn, Doc Severinson, Leonard Slatkin, Eduardo Mata and Hugh Wolff, will join the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, celebrating the festival’s 60th aniversary with performances of classical and popular music. 312-819-0614.
PRINTER’S ROW BOOK FAIR, June 18-19; Dearborn Street between 5th and 7th Streets. In celebration of the World Cup, the fair will honor international writers and feature costumes from around the world. Children can meet the Berenstein Bears, Clifford the Red Dog and Slobosaurious. 312-987-1980.
CHICAGO DAY ’94, June 19; Chicago’s museums and cultural institutions will open their doors to the public free of charge from noon to 5 p.m. Thirty-six institutions will participate, including the Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry, the University of Chicago, Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Chicago Cultural Center, and the John G. Shedd Aquarium; ethnic museums such as the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, Spertus Museum of Jewish Studies, Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center, and the Du Sable Museum of African American History; and specialty museums like the Chicago Children’s Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo, Jane Addams Hull House, Chicago Academy of Sciences, Terra Museum of American Art, Peace Museum and the Museum of Broadcast Communications. The CTA will provide a free shuttle service between the institutions on the north and south sides of the city; buses for both routes will depart from and return to the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave., throughout the day. 312-744-3315.
ST. THECLA CARNIVAL, June 22-26; St. Thecla school grounds, Devon and Oak Park Avenues. Carnival midway, rides, games, food, beer garden, raffles, entertainment. 312-763-3380.
ICE CREAM SOCIAL, June 24; Lawrence House Retirement Hotel, 1020 W. Lawrence Ave. 312-561-2100.
OPENING OF LAKEFRONT BEACHES AND CITY POOLS, June 24; 312-294-2333.
ST. JOSAPHAT SUMMERFEST ’94, June 24-26; St. Josaphat Church, 2311 N. Southport Ave. Live music and dancing, food from local restaurants and the parish, silent auction, bingo, volleyball and basketball tournaments, raffle, children’s activities including miniature golf, face painting, puppeteer, duck pond, rapid fire basketball. 312-327-8955.
ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE SUMMERFEST ’94, June 24-25; 4646 N. Austin Ave. Bingo, live entertainment, grand raffle, beer garden, barbecue, carnival games, karaoke, dunk tank, bake shop, craft booth. 312-777-2666.
GARFIELD STREET FESTIVAL, June 25; 4241 W. Washington St. 312-722-8333.
VENETIAN NIGHT, June 25; Lakefront between the Adler Planetarium and Monroe Harbor. The Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and featured pianist Jeffrey Biegel will perform from the Petrillo Music Shell. Festivities include a procession of illuminated boats, including a tall ship called the “Half Moon” and a fireworks display choreographed to music. 312-744-3370.
JAZOO ANNUAL JAZZ DAY, June 26; six bands from local parks featured at Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive. 312-294-2320.
July
CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT CONCERTS IN THE PARKS, July 1-Sept. 4; citywide park locations. 312-294-2320.
KWANZAA SUMMER FESTIVAL, July 2; Abbott Park, 49 E. 95th St. 312-264-1298.
TASTE OF CHICAGO, July 2-10; Grant Park, from Monroe Street to Balbo Drive. Chicago’s largest food and music festival with more than 70 restaurants, music stages and children’s activities. 312-744-3370.
INDEPENDENCE DAY CONCERT AND FIREWORKS, July 3; Petrillo Music Shell, Grant Park, Jackson Boulvard and Columbus Drive. 312-294-2420.
JULY 4TH PARTY, July 4; Lawrence House Retirement Hotel, 1020 W. Lawrence Ave. Picnic with refreshments, games and entertainment. 312-561-2100.
FESTIVAL ST. PAUL ’94, July 8-10; St. Paul Church, 2127 W. 22nd Pl. Ethnic entertainment, food, children’s activities, dancing. 312-847-7622.
BON ODORI FESTIVAL, July 9; Midwest Buddhist Temple, 435 W. Menomonee St. 312-943-7801.
BUSY IN THE CITY, Chicago South Side 4-H Fair, July 9; Seneca Park, 5626 S. St. Louis Ave. Demonstrations, games, children’s activities, environmental exhibits. 312-737-1178.
CHICAGO COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL, July 9-10; Petrillo Music Shell, Grant Park, Jackson Boulevard and Columbus Drive. 312-744-3370.
Du SABLE MUSEUM ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL AND FAMILY FEST, July 9-10; Du Sable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Pl. Exhibitors, free children’s games, entertainment, craft demonstrations, jazz concert. 312-947-0600.
FESTIVAL OF THE LANTERNS, July 9; Midwest Buddhist Temple, 435 W. Menomonee St. Japanese folk dancing, refreshments. 312-943-7801.
KIDS ZONE FESTIVAL, July 9; 67th and Halsted Streets to 69th Street and Halsted. 312-847-4900.
BALLY’S CHICAGO HEALTH CLUBS RACE TO TASTE, July 10; 5K run beginning and ending at Columbus and Balbo Drives. Prizes include a one-year membership to Bally’s Chicago Health Clubs for the top three male and female winners and medals for the first three finalists in each age category. The race entry fee is $12 per runner before July 2, and $15 for on-site registration. 312-744-7430.
BASTILLE DAY STREET FESTIVAL, July 10; 2934 N. Sheffield Ave. Jazz brunch, champagne tasting, dinner, musical entertainment. 312-472-1000.
BENFEST ’94, July 10; St. Benedict Parish, 2215 W. Irving Park Rd. Live music, beer, food. 312-588-6484.
SPORTS-A-RAMA, July 10; Sisters of St. Casimir Motherhouse grounds, 2601 W. Marquette Rd. Ethnic foods, raffles, flea market, gift shop, bingo, booths, beer and wine cooler garden, live bands. 312-776-1324.
LAKEVIEW CENTRAL FESTIVAL, July 15-17; Clark Street between Belmont Avenue and Roscoe Street, 312-868-3010.
SUMMER OPERA FESTIVAL, Puccini’s “Tosca,” July 15-16; Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Mikado,” July 22-23; a special new production featuring the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists, Aug. 5-6; Hutchinson Courtyard, University of Chicago, 1131 E. 57th St. 312-702-8484.
TASTE OF THE EASTSIDE, July 15-16; 106th Ewing St. 312-721-7948.
EBONY FAMILY CELEBRATION, July 16; Dawes Park, 8052 S. Damen Ave. 312-488-0032.
GOSPEL FEST, July 16; Garfield Community, Kildare Street between Madison Avenue and Washington Street. 312-261-5543.
RAZZ MA TAZZ FESTIVAL, July 16-17; Welles Park, Lincoln and Montrose Avenues. 312-525-3609.
ROCK AROUND THE BLOCK, July 16-17; 3200 block of North Lincoln Avenue between Belmont Avenue and School Street. Music, food, vendors, entertainment, parade, children’s activities. 312-472-7171.
TASTE OF IRELAND FESTIVAL, July 16-17; Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave. Irish entertainment, food, imported Irish merchandise, museum, art gallery, crafts. 312-282-7035.
NORTH DEARBORN GARDEN WALK AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL, July 17; North Dearborn, State, Astor and LaSalle Streets and Sandburg Terrace between Division Street (1200 north) and North Avenue (1600 north). More than 50 award-winning gardens, both front and back, will be open to the public; also architectural tours, music including concerts by the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, children’s activities, horse and carriage rides, plant market and food and beverages from area restaurants. 312-472-6561.
RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL, July 20; Lawrence House Retirement Hotel, 1020 W. Lawrence Ave. Medieval celebration with jugglers, performers and crafts. 312-561-2100.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOFTBALL, July 20; Arvey Field, Grant Park, 12th Street and Lake Shore Drive. 312-294-2329.
BRIGHTON PARK LITHUANIAN FESTIVAL, July 22-24; 4300-4700 S. Western Blvd. 312-847-0664.
GREATER CHICAGO RUBBER DUCK RACE V, July 22; Chicago River from Michigan Avenue Bridge to Wabash Avenue Bridge. Race with more than 20,000 yellow rubber ducks. A benefit for Just Causes and the Metropolitan Easter Seals Society. 708-640-5200.
