THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Another Summer Fest Weekend Is Here!
Another summer fest weekend is here and even though it is the last weekend in June already, Chicagoans have been pretty fortunate with cooperative weather as well! So let’s get this weekend started!!
The 3rd annual Chicago Food Truck Festival has a new location this year at McCormick Place (2200 S. Indiana Ave.) in the South Loop as this fest has become very popular and takes place Saturday and Sunday (11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.). Over 50 food trucks will be serving up a wide variety of delicious dishes and tasty treats along with a host of new features such as a Sangria Garden, live entertainment, outdoor games that include corn hole, volleyball, Jenga and more, FREE general admission with event ticket, giveaways and much more! It’s the most diverse food truck lineup in Chicago and won’t disappoint!!
Returning for its 2nd annual fest, the Elston Avenue Sausage & Music Fest returns to 3800 N. Elston Avenue (Elston at Grace) in the Irving Park neighborhood for its celebration of encased meats this Saturday and Sunday (12:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.). Needless to say, besides the great line-up of sausage vendors (Paulina Meat Market, Genoa Italian, Nottoli & Sons, et al.), indie music acts with “Local H” headlining Saturday and “Murder By Death” headlining Sunday, arts & crafts and kids activities round-out this Fest! It’s truly a crowd-pleasing community party!!
How about heading to Montrose Beach (4400 N. Lake Shore Dr.) in the Uptown neighborhood this Saturday (2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.) for the 2016 Whiskey Wine Swine Beach Fest. Attendees can enjoy up to 60 wines and whiskeys with either a VIP Tasting, a General Admission Tasting or a Festival General Admission all while experiencing a hog roast right on the beach! Additional food from local vendors will be available for purchase as well along with music, art and games for the day!!
Partake in authentic Greek cuisine such as gyros from local restaurants and fresh Greek pastries such as baklava at this year’s Gold Coast Greek Fest located at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (1017 N. LaSalle St.) in the Gold Coast neighborhood this Saturday and Sunday (2:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.) and also featuring a local brewery, ale syndicate beer and live music all weekend long! Whether you’re Greek or not, this Fest is for everyone – OPA!!
Also taking place this Saturday (8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) is the 16th annual Chicago Dragon Boat Race for Literacy at Ping Tom Memorial Park (300 W. 19th St.) in Chinatown. This 30 dragon boat race, consisting of 20 member teams, will compete on the south branch of the Chicago River in beautifully decorated dragon boats with the top 2 winning teams racing for the championship. Races begin at 8:00 a.m. with an Opening Ceremony at 9:00 a.m. featuring a Lion Dance. Guests can also enjoy a Free Chinatown Trolley which will travel from the park and loop and around Chinatown throughout the day to enjoy the entertainment, vendor booths, children’s activities and more being featured as well! Rumor has it that Chicago White Sox’s mascot Southpaw will be visiting at 10:00 a.m.!!
Finally, Sunday brings the 47th annual Chicago Pride Parade featuring floats, decorated vehicles, performance groups, walking contingents and a marching band to 4400 N. Broadway Street (Broadway to Halsted between Montrose & Diversey) at 12:00 p.m. in celebration of National Pride Month. This year’s Grand Marshal is Monica Raymund, star of the NBC hit show, “Chicago Fire!” She will be riding in a vehicle near the front of the parade!!
This weekend’s Movies in the Parks are –
Saturday
“Creed” – Ellis Park (707 E. 37th St.) – Douglas
“The Goonies” – Touhy Park (7348 N. Paulina St.) – Rogers Park
“The Sandlot” – Oz Park (2021 N. Burling St.) – Lincoln Park
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” – Touhy Park (7348 N. Paulina St.) – Rogers Park
“Angels in the Outfield” – Winnemac Park (5100 N. Leavitt St.) – Lincoln Square
Sunday
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2” – LeClaire Courts-Heartland Community (5120 W. 44th St.) – Garfield Ridge
“The Lego Movie” – Maggie Daley Park (337 E. Randolph St.) – The Loop
Enjoy Your “Summer Fest” Weekend!
SUE MOSS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
