Free “Chicago Sister Cities International” Festival Downtown – August 23-27

Come out and celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the Chicago Sister Cities International Program at the 5th Annual FREE Chicago Sister Cities International Festival at Millennium Park’s Chase Promenade South from August 23 – 27, 2010.   With all 28 of Chicago’s international sister cities represented (see list below), this free festival truly represents the diversity and international spirit that exists in the city.  The free festival will transform Millennium Park’s Chase Promenade South into an international village filled with food, music, dance, and merchants. Visitors to the festival will be able to sample international cuisine such as Ukrainian crepes or Colombian empanadas, shop for African art or fair trade goods, all while watching traditional Korean dancers visiting from Busan, Korea or Chinese acrobats from “Cirque Shanghai: Cloud 9”.

SCHEDULE OF FREE EVENTS

Chicago is also celebrating the Year of Mexico and to highlight the sister city relationship with Mexico City, Casita Azul Folk Art – one of the many participating merchandise vendors – will have a Huichol Yarn Artist onsite who will freely demonstrate this unique art form by creating colorful yarn and bead masterpieces on beeswax.

New this year!

• The International Festival will feature a free Cultural Corner that is specifically geared towards children ages 5 to 10 years old, but provides activities that the entire family can enjoy. Children will be able to gain exposure to the world through hands-on activities such as creating traditional Japanese paper fans and Greek shields.
• “Chopin in the Park” celebrates 200 years of Chopin and the 50th Anniversary of the Chicago -Warsaw Sister City relationship.  Free daily performances will be held at Millennium Park’s Monroe Street Balcony.
• Fans can experience the World’s Game by joining the Chicago Fire Soccer Club on the Great Lawn where they will be able to take free shots at an inflatable goal and meet the Fire’s mascot – Sparky.
• The Chicago Sister Cities International Program in collaboration with Share Your Soles will launch a city-wide shoe drive at the International Festival, where Share Your Soles will have shoe drop-off bins available. The public is encouraged to bring their gently-used shoes – men’s, women’s and children’s shoes are all needed, especially gym shoes and cleats.

Participating performers in the 5^th Annual Chicago Sister Cities International Festival are outlined in the week-at-a-glance calendar.  The performance stage will be inside the festival tent located on Millennium Park’s Chase Promenade South.

CHICAGO’S 28 SISTER CITIES