Summer Shindigs

There are only a few weeks of classes left for DePaul students, and many are preparing for a relaxing summer in the Windy City. Chicago summers offer endless activities—hit up North Avenue Beach or catch a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, splash around in Millennium Park’s fountains or explore one of the city’s many neighborhood festivals. It’s hard to find yourself bored in such an adventure filled area.

If you’ll be spending the hot summer days within city limits, we’ve put together a guide filled with info on Chicago’s coolest events that you won’t want to miss.

Grab your friends or head out alone to make some new ones; your U-Pass may be expired but that doesn’t mean you need to stay in one place!

MAYFEST CHICAGO

May 31- June 3
LOCATED AT Lincoln & Leland Avenue

Mayfest 2012 (or Maifest, as the Germans would say) is brought to you by the May Fest Committee, President Joe Matuschka, Vice-President Matt Lodge, the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce and 47th Ward Alderman Ameya Pawar.

This traditional German celebration of the arrival of spring is still celebrated throughout Germany with the maypole (maibaum) decorated to show off the history and crafts of a specific local village or town.

Mayfest, like Octoberfest, has now become a popular celebration throughout the world. Chicago’s German community welcomes all to their Mayfest in Lincoln Square, the heart of Chicago’s German community.

The 13th annual German festival features German foods, live music, maypole dancing and other traditional German presentations.

www.mayfestchicago.com
RANDOLPH ST. MARKET FESTIVAL
May 26- Sept. 30
AT 1340 W. Washington (Plumbers Hall)
10a.m.-6p.m. Sat., 10a.m.-5p.m. Sun.

This European-style, indoor-outdoor urban antique market in the historic West Loop neighborhood features 200 select purveyors of high quality, amazingly priced finds, offering unlimited creative inspiration and hours of fun. Here, shoppers can find furnishings, vintage clothing, jewelry, collectibles, etc.

The Randolph St. Market Festival is home to the world-renowned Chicago Antique Market, Indie Designer Market, Modern Vintage Chicago and The Holiday Market.

One you can’t miss, this festival has been called “a mecca of cool,” “the best hot spot for antiquing,” “the best Chicago venue for people watching” and “the Barney’s of Vintage.”
Head over for the Vinyl Swap Meet, the Fancy Food Market or the Global Foods Bazaar, and bring your canine friends! The event is pet-friendly, but only in the outdoor section—and they specifically request that pit bulls and dobermans be left at home.

$8 general admission, $3 for students, and children 12 and under are free.

www.randolphstreetmarket.com

WRIGLEYVILLE SUMMERFEST

Sat. and Sun., Aug. 4-5
LOCATED AT 3300 N. Seminary

The ninth annual SummerFest is a “grand slam” of a festival featuring local bands, food and fun.Kicking off on Saturday, Aug. 13 at noon, the event will have plenty of food and beverages to be enjoyed and many local vendors showcasing their products and services.“Food that Chicagoans have come to know and love will be on hand for this out of the park festival,” says the event’s Facebook page.Only $5 for admission, all of the proceeds will be going to worthy causes including The Night Ministry, Lakeview Pantry, Evangelical Lutheran Church America, the Ressurection Lutheran Church After School Program and the Ressurection Lutheran Church Preschool Tuition Assistance Fund.

Saturday’s performers will be Mike & Joe, Mr. Blotto and Mad Science. Sunday brings us the Bethel Lutheran Church Gospel Choir at noon followed by the RLC worship and brunch, courtesy of Lakeview’s Resurrection Lutheran Church.

Wrigleyville SummerFest’s Kids’ Zone features a wide range of interactive activities for children aged toddler to twelve. Bring the kids for face painting and enjoy the inflatable obstacle course, giant slide, mini coaster, and a variety of other fun crafts and games.

www.facebook.com/wrigleyvillesummerfest

WAVEFRONT MUSIC FESTIVAL

June 30- July 1
LOCATED AT Montrose Beach

Wavefront Music Festival is a two-day early summer beachfront music event that follows in the tradition of the great summer fests in Chicago, taking advantage of the warm weather and the city as a destination for thrill seekers nationwide, says the event’s Facebook page.

Featured here is electronic dance music and Montrose Beach as its location. Performers include Boys Noize, Eirck Morillo, Duck Sauce, Sasha, Chris Lake, Art Department, Nadia Ali, Serge Devant, Matthew Dear, Nic Fanciulli, Guy Gerber, Visionquest, Steve Lawler, John Dahlback, Lee Foss, Murk, Danny Daze, James Murphy & Pat Mahoney of LCD Sound System and Shit Robot.The festival is for all ages, although the VIP areas are 21+. Admission is $49 for a one-day pass and $89 for two days. VIP tables are also available.

wavefrontmusicfestival.com

TASTE OF RANDOLPH STREET

June 15- 17
LOCATED AT Randolph Street Corridor

Located in the city’s most famous restaurant row, the 15th annual Taste of Randolph Street takes place on Chicago’s Randolph Street corridor. The Taste of Randolph Street is a food-centric festival in the West Loop, a neighborhood that boasts some of the best cuisine in the city.

Home to Stephanie Izard’s Girl & the Goat, Veerasway Indian food with a twist, and Italian-focused Vivó, Randolph Street is the ideal location for a culinary celebration, says the website. Attracting city dwellers and suburbanites in numbers in excess of 100,000, including, in 2010, Vince Vaughn and his wife, Taste of Randolph Street promises to excite and entertain your senses.

Top-rated West Loop neighborhood restaurants come together with talented artisans and eclectic vendors for this three-day cross-cultural celebration. Artisan and restaurant booths are intermixed along two the aligning rows that adorn six blocks of Randolph Street during the three-day festival.

On the six-block stretch of Randolph Street from Peoria Street and Racine Avenue, you can explore handcrafted and merchant goods. Along with two unique stages of incredible live entertainment, this year newly offers a hidden DJ dance stage. Among the many items offered by artisans are handcrafted jewelry pieces, clothing, artwork and a multitude of other fun accessories.

“Taste of Randolph Street is kid-friendly, pet-friendly and hungry-person friendly, so bring your appetite and the fest will provide the rest,” says the website.

This festival benefits the West Loop Gate Community Organization, where residents, visitors and businesses have an active voice in decisions affecting the neighborhood – parks, development, schools, traffic, safety and more. The organization is constantly working to ensure positive growth for the neighborhood, while offering social events and promoting beneficial developments to improve the quality of life in the West Loop.

The taste is located at 900-1200 W. Randolph St., on Randolph Street from Peoria to Racine. Event hours are Friday June 15, 5p.m. – 10p.m., Saturday 12p.m. – 10p.m., and Sunday 12p.m. – 10p.m. Admission to the festival is free but there is a suggested donation of $10.

www.tasterandolph.com

LOLLAPALOOZA

Aug. 3-5
LOCATED AT Grant Park

What started as a touring music festival in 1991 by Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, Lollapalooza has become a unique music experience. Today, Lollapalooza takes place every summer in the historic Grant Park, between the iconic Chicago skyline and the shores of Lake Michigan, says the event’s Facebook page.

Thousands of music fans from all over the world take over Grant Park every summer and Lolla continues to be a destination for music lovers of all ages.

This year’s headliners include The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Keys, Black Sabbath, Jack White, Florence + The Machine, Bassnectar, At the Drive-In, The Shins, Justice, Passion Pit and many, many more.

www.lollapalooza.com

CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL

June 8-10
LOCATED AT Grant Park

The Chicago Blues Festival is the largest free blues festival in the world and remains the largest of Chicago's Music Festivals.

During three days on five stages, more than 500,000 blues fans prove that Chicago is the "Blues Capital of the World."

Past performers include Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, B.B. King, the late Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy and the late Koko Taylor.

The festival, which is held at Grant Park, offers music, food, and other live entertainment for festival-goers to enjoy.

An acceptable event for all ages to attend, the festival is free and offers accommodations for senior citizens and young children.

This year the performers include Joe Louis Walker, Eddie C. Campbell, Texas Johnny Brown, Floyd Taylor, Mavis Staples, Billy Branch and the Sons and Blues, Rev. K M Williams, Paul Kaye and Steady Rollin Bob Margolin, among many others.

www.facebook.com/chicago-blues-festival

RIBFEST CHICAGO

June 8- 10
LOCATED AT the intersection of Lincoln/Damen/Irving Park

Starting in the summer of 1999 as a community block party, Ribfest has exploded into one of Chicago’s most anticipated street festivals—averaging 50,000 pounds of pork and 50,000+ attendees who love to kick off summer at this three-day event, says the website.

RibMania, a sanctioned rib-eating contest, returns for a third round in 2012. Ribfest is also a nationally recognized Indie music festival, hosting two stages that feature top local and national acts.

This is a festival to bring the whole family to. “Kids Square” provides hours of family fun allowing children to slide, climb, jump, ride, dance and enjoy live entertainment all weekend long.

Proceeds of the festival are utilized to fund community activities, area greening efforts and local outreach programs such as the innovative School Grant Program and the Northcenter Chamber’s Philanthropy Committee.

Ribfest provides a memorable weekend of lively music, family fun and satisfied appetites as it celebrates 14 years of unforgettable barbecue.

So whether you're into music or food, daytime shopping events or nighttime dance-offs, there's something going on in the city of Chicago for each and every one of you.

Many of these events are free or very low-cost, so even if you're on a budget you can enjoy some of the summer fun that Chicago has to offer. Check out our website throughout the summer for updates and more events.