Bring your friends to the FREE Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest (GAAF), a free, weekend-long event, usually drawing over 10,000 visitors, featuring artists, live entertainment on three outdoor stages, and (new this year!) “ARTery” — artwork displayed in storefront windows throughout the fest route. Experience art, theater, music, as well as food and drink, on the brick-laid streets of the Glenwood Avenue Arts District in Chicago’s historic Rogers Park neighborhood.
Over 100 artists will exhibit on Glenwood and Morse Avenues, and Glenwood Avenue Arts District studios and galleries will be open to visitors on Saturday and Sunday from
12 noon until 9 p.m. Additionally, new this year, the “ARTery” gallery project will present artwork in business windows all along the Fest route, with a main gallery information center located at 1409 W. Morse Avenue, featuring a full-color map suitable for self-guided walking tours.
The Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest takes place in the Glenwood Avenue Arts District on Chicago’s North Side, in the heart of Rogers Park, on Glenwood Ave., 6900 – 7000 North (between Farwell and Lunt) and the 1400 block of Morse Avenue, steps from the Morse Ave stop on the CTA Red Line. Outdoor fest and many art studios are handicapped accessible.
There is no Fest admission charge, suggested donation or gated point of entry, and all the performance events are free to view. The Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest has created a unique model whereby local commercial sponsors (listed below) provide the support to maintain festival organization costs, and to keep artist participation fees low. While not required to attend the Fest, visitors are encouraged to purchase arts and crafts, food and beverages from the vendor stands.
Kick-Off Party: Friday, August 20 • 6-10 p.m.
Festival: Saturday and Sunday, August 21-22 • 12 noon to 9 p.m., 6900-7000 N. Glenwood Ave. and the 1400 block of Morse Ave.
Information: 773-761-4477 x701,
FREE admission
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Friday, August 20, 6-10pm Kick-Off event
Festival Kick-Off Party: 6900 block of N. Glenwood Ave.
6:30pm Read My Hips, tribal belly dance, www.readmyhips.com
7:30pm The New Iberians, Blues & Zydeco Band of Portland, Oregon, www.newiberians.com
9:30pm Pyrotechniq, fire dancers, www.pyrotechniq.org
Saturday and Sunday, August 21 and 22, 2010, 12 noon – 9 p.m.
KidFest Area: Features hands-on arts activities for kids. Also, the South Stage offers family friendly circus, theater, dance and music acts from 12 – 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. KidFest activities are sponsored by Community First Bank.
Three Festival Stages: Two live music stages and a live music/performance stage (includes dance, theater, and circus acts). Schedules are below, and will be updated at www.GlenwoodAve.org as well as on Fest map and event signage.
Food and Beverage: Unique Rogers Park restaurants and bars contribute to the neighborhood flavor with food and beverage booths.
ABOUT ROGERS PARK
Rogers Park is the most culturally and economically diverse neighborhood in Chicago. Located in the far northeast corner of the city, more than 80 languages are spoken among the community’s 63,000 residents. Rogers Park celebrates diversity and harmonious living. “In a city made famous for an accepted and often enforced cultural and socio-economic homogeneity within neighborhoods,” said the Chicago Tribune, “Rogers Park stands almost alone as an exception.” The Daily Herald reported that “Rogers Park, on the north edge of Chicago, offers an urban vibe, intimate but exciting theater, a variety of live music, good restaurants and largely free parking, and the glorious Lake Michigan beachfront open to all.”
Glenwood Avenue Arts District features artist studios, music venues (Duke’s, Heartland Café, Morseland, Red Line Tap), and numerous unique and tasty restaurants. The Rogers Park neighborhood is also well known for its theaters, including Lifeline Theatre, the side project, and Theo Ubique, which make up one of the city’s hottest theater corridors and are regularly recognized by the Jeff Awards. “For pure Chicago heart, soul and polished grit, the Glenwood Avenue Arts District in Rogers Park is our favorite new destination” (Chicago Magazine, October 2008). A Rogers Park theatre and restaurant Flex Pass will be available for a special price of $45 at the Fest – visit Lifeline Theatre or contact their box office at 773-761-4477 for details or to purchase.
