Clarendon Hills’ longstanding summer concert series, Dancin’ in the Street, kicks off its 2026 offerings from 7 to 9 p.m. July 8 and continues at the same time each Wednesday through Aug. 12.
The free concerts, which began in 2000, are sponsored by the Clarendon Hills Chamber of Commerce and are held on Prospect Avenue, between the railroad tracks and Park Avenue in the downtown area.
Shannon McDonald, executive director of the Chamber, said the primary goal of the summer concert series is to build community by attracting Clarendon Hills residents to meet and gather with their neighbors.
“We also want to attract folks from outside our community to discover what Clarendon Hills has to offer, in terms of retail, dining, and services,” she said.
Concert-goers are invited to bring their own chairs and blankets. Food and beverages will be available for sale.
The concert lineup for 2026 features tribute acts of specific musical artists for five of the six shows.
The only exception is a July 15 appearance by Common Area Maintenance, a group of daytime real estate professionals who bring a variety of cover songs by different artists to the stage for their show.
The July 8 opening night features Stevie McVie, a Fleetwood Mac tribute.
While the band focuses on songs by Fleetwood Mac and band member, Stevie Nicks, it has a setlist that also pays tribute to the various musical connections to Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks. That includes songs by the likes of Don Henley and Tom Petty.
“We explore the ‘six degrees of separation’ that tie these legendary artists together, creating a truly unique experience that sets us apart from other tribute acts,” Stevie McVie said in a statement.
Past Stevie McVie performances include support slots opening for Chicago, .38 Special, and John Waite.
On July 22, Gimme More, a Britney Spears tribute, takes the stage.
Billing itself as the Midwest’s only tribute to the “Princess of Pop,” Gimme More includes a full band, dancers, and an extensive light show performing the songs of Britney Spears.
“We take the crème de la crème of her songs and give you an onslaught of sights and sounds,” the band said in a statement.
The July 29 Dancin’ in the Street concert brings The Great Encore, a Michael Jackson and Prince Tribute Show, to the stage.
The Great Encore bills itself as the only live band in the Midwest paying tribute to both Michael Jackson and Prince. The band performs hits spanning the catalog of hits created by both artists.
On Aug. 5, Chicago’s all-female Beastie Boys tribute, She’s Crafty, comes to Clarendon Hills.
Founding members Amy Sumpter, Kendra Stevens and Maggie Tomasek first met through the Chicago comedy scene and soon discovered their shared love of the Beastie Boys, according to information from their website. They kicked around the idea of starting an all-female Beastie Boys tribute and decided to go ahead with it after the 2012 death of Adam “MCA” Yauch of the Beastie Boys.
The final Dancin’ in the Street concert for 2026 is the Aug. 12 concert by Terrapin Flyer, a Grateful Dead tribute.
For more than 25 years, Terrapin Flyer has performed nationally and has had long-term collaborations with Grateful Dead legends Melvin Seals, Vince Welnick, and Tom Constanten, earning them a spot in Rolling Stone’s “Guide to the Grateful Dead.”
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
