Chicago, IL

The Mayor’s Office of Special Events (MOSE) will present Mayor Daley’s Kids & Kites Festival this Saturday October 6th. The event will run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Montrose Harbor in Lincoln Park.

Kids and their parents can bring their own kites to the event or create their own kite after they arrived. The MOSE will provide children with kits so that they make their own kite to fly.

There will also be “kite flying professionals” to teach kids how to fly a kite and what it takes to keep the kite aloft. One of the trickiest things about by flying a kite is getting it up in the first place, so hopefully the professional can help even the most hapless kite flier to get their kite in the air.

In addition to the kite flying, there will also be “interactive storytelling, literacy arts and crafts activities.” The Kohl McCormick StoryBus, which is “an interactive literary museum-on-wheels designed to bring a language-rich experience” to young kids in Chicago, will be at the event. There will also be face painting and caricature pictures, in addition to other activities. Overall it should be a great kid friendly event.

Although Chicago was dubbed the Windy City because of the “hot air” spewed by politicians, the city also typically has plenty of wind for kite flying, especially on the lakefront where the event will take place.

You can get to Montrose Harbor by car via Lake Shore Drive (from the north and south) or via bus by taking the 151 or 146 routes. For more information about Chicago transit, visit the CTA online.

This Sunday, September 23rd, suburban Palos Heights will host the Lake Katherine Monarch Butterfly Festival. The event will feature a butterfly tent, a traveling science center, and a live insect museum. Children are encouraged to wear butterfly or other insect costumes.

Other events include:

Children’s games
Arts and crafts fair
Canoe Rentals
Face Painting
Hayrides
Scarecrow making

This sounds like a great fall event, with all of the fun things that I love about fall. Just add some cider and it sounds like a great fall day!

The event runs from 11:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and will be $6 for adults, $4 for kids ages three to twelve. The location of the event is 7402 W. Lake Katherine Drive in Palos Heights. For more information, you can call the Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens at (708) 361-1873.

Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens, Lake Katherine, Palo Heights, Monarch, butterfly

Want a delicious activity for you and the family this weekend? You should check out Eli’s Cheesecake Festival which runs September 15th and 16th.

Admission to the event is free and includes musical acts, a car show, cooking demonstrations, and best of all, free samples of cheesecake! There is also a “family stage” which will include such events as a cheesecake eating contest and hula hoop contests.

Money raised from the event will benefit the New Horizon Center for the Developmentally Disabled and The Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Details:
Saturday September 15th: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sunday September 16th: 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Location:
6701 W. Forest Preserve Drive in Chicago

For more information on the event, including the schedule, visit Eli’s Cheesecake.

Chicago, Eli’s Cheesecake, cheesecake, cheesecake festival

This weekend, September 15th and 16th, is the 11th annual Celtic Fest Chicago. The free event takes place in Grant Park and runs from 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. both days.

This 2-day festival in Chicago’s Grant Park celebrates the music, dance and traditions of the 7 original Celtic Nations: Ireland; Scotland; Wales; Isle of Man; Cornwall; Galicia, Spain and Brittany, France.

Saturday at 4:50 p.m., at the Celtic Crossroads stage, they will hold a “men in kilts” contest, with an award going to the man with the best legs in a kilt.

For more information, including the schedule of performers, visit the website here.

Chicago, Celtic Fest, Men in kilts, kilts, festival

The Tall Grass Arts Association presents the Park Forest Art Fair on September 15th and 16th in downtown Park Forest, Illinois. This will be the 52nd iteration of the far, which will feature more than 100 artists. The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day.

Glassware, paintings, photographs, jewelry and other forms of fine art will be exhibited and available for purchase at the 52nd Annual Park Forest Art Fair. The public is invited and admission is free. The Park Forest Art Fair is one of the longest running suburban art fairs in existence; and has more than 100 artists displaying and selling original artworks and features live entertainment, a variety of foods, and activities for the children.

Park Forest Art Fair, Park Forest, Art Fair, Tall Grass Arts Association, Tall Grass

This weekend will mark the 18th annual African Festival of Arts in Chicago. The event will celebrate the art and culture of Africa. It features three performance stages, including a hip-hop stage and a world music stage. Performers include MC Lyte, Naughty By Nature, and James Cotton.

In addition to music, the African Festival of the Arts will feature cultural programs including fine arts, fashion, a kids pavilion, and food sellers. There will also be a drum village featuring talented percussionists.

The event will take place in Washington Park at 51st Street and Cottage Grove Avenue on Friday August 31-Monday September 3rd from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

For more information, including how to purchase tickets, visit the African Festival of the Arts website.

Chicago, African Festival of the Arts, African Festival, Naughty by Nature, MC Lyte, James Cotton

Friday, August 31 through Sunday, August 2, all are invited to join the festivities in Grant Park FREE music on three stages. The event opens daily at 11 a.m., with music beginning at noon on the Jazz on Jackson stage and 12:30 p.m. at the Jazz and Heritage Family Stage. Then at 5 p.m., music lights up the night at the Petrillo Music Shell for three evenings of spectacular Jazz performances, tributes and entertainment for any fan of Jazz music to enjoy.

This year’s Artist in Residence is Charlie Haden. One of the most respected jazz bassists today, Haden became famous playing with Ornette Coleman in the late 1950s. He will play in Grant Park on multiple stages with the Jazz Institute of Chicago Jazz Links Students on Friday, the Liberation Music Orchestra on Saturday, and “A Chicago Jam,” with local jazz veterans on Sunday.

For the full list of performers, visit the city of Chicago site about the festival here.

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Chicago, Jazz Festival,

Looking for a fun way to say goodbye to summer, while also helping a good cause? This weekend is the Riverview Music Festival, which brings together nine different bands for two days of performances. Headliners Umphrey’s McGee will perform both nights at 8:00 p.m. The proceeds from the event go to the Boys & Girls Club.

Date: August 25, 2007 - August 26, 2007
Time: 1pm to 11pm daily
Location: 3300 N. Campbell (DeVry University Campus)

For more information, including the full musical line-up, as well as ticket information, visit the Riverview Musical Festival site.

Riverview Music Festival, Umphrey’s McGee, Boys and Girls club

Celebrate Greek heritage and culture this weekend at the Taste of Greece. The event will take place in the heart of Greektown, on Halsted Street, from Monroe to Van Buren.

A celebration of Greek heritage includes food from area restaurants, live music on two stages (5 p.m.), beer and wine, belly dancing, games and more. The Hellas Dance Troupe and the Orpheus Dancing Group perform nightly beginning at 7 p.m.

The event runs from 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

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Chicago, Taste of Greece, Greektown

The two-day Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival will take place this Saturday and Sunday, August 25th and 26th. The event will feature dozens of musicians on two different stages, including Moenia and Mike Roman and the Tellstars featuring Jose Feliciano.

According to the official city of Chicago release, the event will feature:

Distinctive types of Latin music like cumbia, reggaeton, salsa, merengue, tango, bachata, banda and Spanish Pop! The Viva Chicago Latin Music Festival is considered one of the largest events of its kind in the Midwest and the festival entertains both residents and visitors alike.

Admission to the event is free and takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Millennium Park. For more information and the complete schedule of performers, check out the official Viva Chicago site.

Chicago, Latin Music Festival, Viva Chicago Latin Music Festival, Moenia, Mike Roman and the Tellstars, Jose Feliciano

Do you think you have what it takes to perform at one of the city of Chicago’s summer music events? The Chicago Mayor’s Office of Special Events has posted information for those musicians who would like to be considered for a spot in the Chicago Gospel Music Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, Taste of Chicago, Chicago Country Music Festival, Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival or Celtic Fest Chicago.

The deadlines for submissions vary, although most are due this fall or early winter. For full information on how to apply and what the deadline is for the event you are considering, view the official announcement here. Who knows, I could be writing about your performance next summer!

Chicago, MOSE, Chicago Gospel Music Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, Taste of Chicago, Chicago Country Music Festival, Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival, Celtic Fest Chicago, music audition

When I moved to Chicago seven years ago, I had never heard of the Air and Water Show. The day after I moved into my near north side apartment, I heard planes flying continuously overhead. I thought that I had made a big mistake and moved into a building that was in the flight path of the airport. I did not realize that I was listening to the rehearsal for the Air and Water Show. I was relieved to learn that the noise would not be permanent.

If you want to experience the amazing airplanes and exciting water acts yourself, you should head to this weekend’s Air and Water show.

The Chicago Air and Water Show shakes up the lakefront August 18 - 19, 2007 for the largest FREE show of its kind in the United States. This year the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights will headline the Chicago Air and Water Show along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach as the focal point. The water show begins at 9 a.m. and air show runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. both days.

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In what has become a tradition that marks back-to-school time in Chicago, this Saturday, August 11, 2007, will be the 78th annual Bud Billiken Parade. The parade is the largest African-American parade in the country, named after Bud Billiken, the mythical protector of children.

In addition to typical parade participants, such as marching bands, drill teams, and floats, the event also features the Bud Billiken King and Queen.

In its 78 years of existence, the parade has hosted many celebrities, including:

Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Duke Ellington, Oprah Winfrey, Hop-Along Cassidy, Lena Horne, Spike Lee, L.L. Cool J, Bozo the Clown, Jack Brickhouse, Frank Thomas, Michael Jordan and President Harry S. Truman

This year’s parade will step-off at 10:00 a.m. at 39th Street and Martin Luther King Drive and head south to Washington Park. If you cannot make the festivities, the parade will be aired locally on both ABC and WGN, and will be shown nationwide on WGN.

For more information on the parade and its history, visit the official Bud Billiken Parade Site.

Chicago, Bud Billiken Parade, Bud Billiken, parade

This Friday and Saturday, Halsted Street will be host to the annual Northalsted Market Days. The event purports to be the “largest two-day street fair in the Midwest.”

From the Market Days officials:

The event spans six city blocks, has 17 entrance gates and features three music stages with more than 40 musical acts performing. Many of these artists will be top-name, national headliners, giving Market Days a reputation for some of the best live music in Chicago.

Market Days is also famous for its vast array of unique food, and arts and crafts vendors. Vendors from across the country apply for the privilege of showing and selling their unique wares to this huge, upscale crowd. On average, Northalsted Market Days® features 400 food, arts and crafts vendors.

Details:
Date: August 11th and 12th
Time: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Location: N. Halsted street, between Belmont and Addison in Chicago

For the full schedule, including all of the musical events check out think link.

Chicago, Halsted Market Days, Market Days, Northalsted Market Days

Today marks the opening of the three day music festival extravaganza that is Lollapalooza. It will take take place in Grant Park today through Sunday.

The extensive list of tremendous musical acts includes Pearl Jam, Snow Patrol, Amy Winehouse, The Roots, and Regina Spektor. For a full list of acts, including when they perform, visit the Lollapalooza Official Site.

Lollapalooza, Chicago, Pearl Jam, Amy Winehouse, Snow Patrol, Regina Spektor, The Roots, Grant Park