photo: Do-Division Street Fest & Sidewalk Sale events courtesy of REP3
DO-DIVISION STREET FEST AND SIDEWALK SALE
Dates: May 30 – June 1
Location: Division St from Ashland to Leavitt
Cost: $5 donation
Hours: Fri, 5 pm to 10 pm; Sat & Sun, noon to 10 pm
Website: www.do-divisionstreetfest.com
Kicking off the 2014 fest season is the annual Do-Division Street Fest & Sidewalk Sale. This signature Chicago street fest pits great shopping, live music and family entertainment together under the summer sun. Spanning a lengthy 10-city blocks, this year’s bash features the Family Fun Fest, a Do-Fashion section, a multi-block sidewalk sale, and great food, crafts and artisans – highlighted by some of the best live music of fest season (band lineups TBA). Music critics and fans alike typically rate the lineup among the best of the music fest season – and at only a fraction of the price ($5) compared to the other top guns. The bottom line: Do-Division Street Fest gives the estimated 70,000-plus attendees each year a taste of what makes West Division (aka, “Do-Division”) one of the hottest destination corridors in Chicago!
WICKER PARK’S GREEN MUSIC FEST
Dates: June 21 – 22
Location: Damen Ave b/w North and Schiller
Cost: $5 Donation
Hours: Noon to 10 pm both days
Website: www.greenmusicfestchicago.com
WEST FEST
Dates: July 12 – 13
Location: Chicago Ave b/w Damen and Wood
Cost: $5 donation
Hours: Noon to 10 pm both days
Website: www.westfestchicago.com
TASTE OF RIVER NORTH
Dates: July 18 – 20
Location: Ward Park (Kingsbury & Erie)
Cost: $5 Donation
Hours: Fri, 5 pm to 10 pm; Sat, noon to 10 pm; Sun, 11 am to 8 pm
The Taste of River North (ToRN) continues to get bigger each year, with a record 40,000-plus attending in 2013. Now in its 13th season, ToRN still takes place in the picturesque riverfront setting of Ward Park. Along with a vast selection of notable restaurants (partial lineups posted on the new event website – tasteofrivernorth.com) and world-class galleries from the neighborhood, ToRN also features non-stop live music, boasting great Chicago party bands like Second Hand Smoke (Sublime tribute), Funky Monks (Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute) and Sixteen Candles (80s tribute) – among many others (more of this year’s lineup is also posted on the website). ToRN has something that appeals to everyone, with three days of diverse River North cuisine along with artisans, bands, and a dedicated Kid’s Zone! Having grown each year in size and scope, it can be said that ToRN is a fun, somewhat refined alternative, or follow-up, to the often chaotic experience that is Taste of Chicago earlier in the month!
WICKER PARK FEST
Dates: July 26 – 27
Location: Milwaukee Ave b/w North and Paulina
Cost: $5 Donation
Hours: noon to 10 pm both days
Website: www.wickerparkfest.com
CHICAGO FOOD SOCIAL
Dates: August 23 – 24
Location: Kendall College (parking lot), 900 Branch Street
Cost: $5 admission / open to the public
Hours: 11 am to 10 pm
Website: www.chicagofoodsocial.com
Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters, a national non-profit attempting to end childhood hunger in America.
CHICAGO FASHION FEST
Dates: August 23 – 24
Location: Division Street from Wolcott to Paulina
Cost: $5 Donation
Hours: noon to 10 pm
Website: www.chicagofashionfest.com
Chicago Fashion Fest invites you to two days of non-stop fashionista action celebrating Chicago’s top designers, boutiques and latest looks. The fashion-forward street fest features a bleachered-in runway stage where bands and DJs will set the tone as models tout “What’s in” for end of summer and fall 2014. Over 20 unique fashion runway shows (15-20 minutes each) will be included over the two days, including segments like: vintage, kids, teen, back-to-school, curvaceous, bridal, ‘Do-Fashion’ (with only Division Street boutiques) and more. The highlight of Chicago Fashion Fest will be the dazzling runway shows each night starting at 8 pm called Wicker Park after Dark – charity-hosted red carpet extravaganzas that attract paparazzi, VIPs and celebs. An on-site “Shopper’s Row” will also be home to up to 50 exclusive booths of local fashion designers, boutiques, and salons, as well as food and drink tents and a dedicated kids area.
DESIGN HARVEST
Dates: Sept 20 – 21
Location: Grand Ave b/w Damen & Wood
Cost: $5 Donation
Hours: 11 am to 6 pm both days
Website: www.design-harvest.com
Contemporary and sustainable design thrives in Grand Avenue’s Design District, where on one weekend the best local makers and collectors of design objects pop-up shop in an aesthetic marketplace. At its core, the annual Design Harvest is a creative celebration of design – a showcase of the wide spectrum of home & garden disciplines. It’s here where vintage and antique objects find their afterlife amongst environmentally-friendly and modern goods handcrafted by top Chicago designers. This one-of-a-kind street fest also features original live music (lineups TBA), family activities, hay rides, and more. Between large-scale vendor tents, fest-goers will sip wine and enjoy food from local restaurant vendors, and grab a seat on a hay bale while listening to music. New to 2014 will be a tie-in to the event media sponsor, Chicago magazine’s Chairs for Charity auction. Also this year’s event will focus more on the designers and offer more interactive design activities, consultations, and demonstrations.
WEST TOWN ART WALK
Dates: Oct 3 – 4
Location: On Chicago Avenue between Leavitt and Ogden / Milwaukee
Cost: Free (no donation request)
Hours: Fri, 5 pm to 10 pm; Sat, 11 am to 10 pm
Website: www.westtownartwalk.com
For a fourth consecutive year, West Town’s prominent artist community boasts its talents at this pop-up gallery / Art Walk. The free Art Walk features art in all forms within dozens of storefronts. During the Friday and Saturday event, attendees can enjoy visual art, performance art, music, culinary and fashion from Chicago artists showcased within West Town’s shops, businesses, restaurants, and bars along Chicago Avenue. There’s also a “party central” tented location with beer and wine, a designer “lounge” area, and DJs. Other activities include: trolleys and bike rickshaws transporting guests throughout the event, an after party and performance art along the Chicago Avenue corridor.
DO-DIVISION HOLIDAY
Dates: Dec 6 – 7
Location: Division between Ashland and Leavitt
Cost: Free
Hours: 11 am to 6 pm
Website: www.do-division.com/do/holiday
Holiday shoppers are urged to refocus attention on the small, independent businesses in one of the most charming retailer corridors, West Division. On the weekend of December 6th and 7th, Division between Ashland and Leavitt is again transforming into Do-Division Holiday, a neighborhood “festival-like” atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the city or suburbs this holiday season. The free event invites holiday shoppers to take time this season to shop small while also having fun. Dozens of restaurants, boutiques, salons, bars, and galleries along Division Street will participate, offering sales exclusive to that weekend, holiday decorations galore, charity tie-ins, complimentary drinks and food, caroling and much more. Other event activities include a Build-a-Snowman event for families and free “jolly trolleys” running up and down Division and to Michigan Avenue.
the ROOM FOR MORE 
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