CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Chicago Loop, Lincoln Square, Lakeview East, Lincoln Park
With two weeks of ‘official’ summer left, September offers glorious opportunities to enjoy Chicago’s legendary festivals, concerts and events!
Two uniquely Chicago music forms come together Saturday evening as the City of Chicago presents ‘Sanitize Your Soul,’ a House music celebration featuring DJ Lady D, and a debut Gospel House Choir collaboration between Mark Hubbard and DJ Terry Hunter on Saturday, September 11, 5:30–8:30pm, as part of the City’s ‘Chicago in Tune’ series at Millennium Park. Bring a picnic dinner to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and enjoy this unique gospel and house music celebration! Free admission.
Wilkommen! Chicago’s famed German American Oktoberfest returns to Lincoln Square with gemutlichkeit September 10-12, at the corner of Lincoln and Western. Try authentic German food such as spaetzle, brezel and traditional drinks, dance to the music of German bands, spend the evening with friends and family, and raise a bier in celebration! Opening ceremony is 8pm Friday, and the Great Parade begins at 2pm Saturday on Lincoln Avenue at Irving Park Road. Sunday’s special events include a German Mass at 11am. Festival hours are 5pm-11pm on Friday, Noon-11pm on Saturday, and Noon-10pm on Sunday. Free admission.
Just south of Lincoln Square, the 16th Annual Lakeview East Festival of the Arts along Broadway from Belmont to Hawthorne, showcases more than 150 juried artists on Saturday, September 11 and Sunday, September 12, displaying paintings, sculpture, photography, furniture, jewelry and more! These original pieces are for sale. In addition to seeing some of the greatest Chicago artists, the festival features live demonstrations, entertainment stages, family activities and a garden oasis. Featured musical acts include the Barry Winograd Trio, the Hoyle Brothers, Nora Jean Wallace, and Decoy Prayer Meeting, among many others. Free admission.
Lincoln Park Greek Fest is back at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 2701 N. Sheffield Ave, Chicago from Friday, September 10 at 5pm to Sunday, September 12, at 10pm! Join your hosts for the aromas, sounds, tastes and traditions of Greece. This popular annual cultural celebration will serve up an authentic dose of “filoxenia” (Greek hospitality and generosity of spirit) along with flavorful food, great music, dancing and pure fun! Spanakopita, anyone? Admission is $5.
Sundays on State concludes on Sunday, September 12 with a celebration of music, games, and community for a free, interactive city-wide block party. Bring the family to safely enjoy free art, culture, active recreation, shopping, food, drinks, and local attractions from 11am-8pm with musical performances by the Freakeasy, Sweet Kay Bluegrass, Derrick Carter, Beautiful Guitar Hands, and Blind Adam and the Federal League, among many others. Preview Imagination Circus, participate in an interactive game show by The Acting Workshop Chicago, live art demonstrations from Aaron Pierre Brown, outdoor fitness classes featuring workouts from Chicago’s top fitness instructors in cycle, boxing, yoga, Pilates, strength, barre and meditation, play Blue Demon Bag Toss for prizes, hear from DePaul Men’s Basketball Coach Tony Stubblefield, and dance in the streets with DIBS the Blue Demon! Free admission.
Alison Moran and Dean’s Team Chicago
