West Fest

West Fest 2013

Saturday & Sunday, July 13th & 14th

12-10pm

on Chicago Avenue between Damen and Wood

There is something for everyone at West Fest, the Chicago street fair that reflects the eclectic persona of its West Town environs. Held annually on Chicago Avenue at Damen, the two-day party features live cutting edge music on 3 stages! The main stage is booked by Empty Bottle Presents, then there is a DJ Stage, and a Kid Fest Stage. There are Kid Fest activities and entertainment, PUPFest with pet product vendors and dog activities for charity, plus a multitude of booths from popular neighborhood restaurants, retailers, and artists. What makes this fest unique is that it’s locally planned and managed by the West Town Chamber of Commerce, thus the emphasis is all-things “local,” from the food to the talent.

The Music

The biggest difference between West Fest and other cookie-cutter Chicago street festivals is the high quality live music. West Fest is all about up and coming local and national artists playing original live music. West Fest also features a DJ stage, one of the first at a Chicago street fest since it's inception in 2004. The 2013 DJ stage will feature Chicago House. The main stage is booked by the renowned local venue Empty Bottle Presents. 

Click here for the complete 2013 live music line up.

*For talent photos, bios or interviews, contact West Fest publicist Jody Grimaldi at 630/470-0044:

The Activities

Kid Fest (on Wolcott & Rice): Join us for the 9th annual Kid Fest held in conjunction with West Fest July 13th & 14th from Noon to 6pm - located on Wolcott Ave between Chicago Ave and Rice. A jammed packed two-day family fun event. This year Kid Fest will feature the usual games, rides and crafts plus musical workshops and student bands from the Suzuki Orff School of Music. In 2013, Talcott Elementary School and Suzuki Orff School of music will organize the kid activities and proceeds will benefit the two local West Town schools.

PUP Fest: Each year West Fest features another large ‘fest within a fest’ dedicated exclusively to pet product vendors, canine bathing pools, and plenty of pet activities for local pet charities.
Dog activities in past years including an agility course, an additional obstacle course fun area (with mud pit!), dog "tattooing", face painting and paw painting, paw cooling stations, raffles and spin-the-wheel prizes. This years activities and benefactors are TBA.

$5 donation requested for admittance to West Fest offsets the costs of the event and benefits local non-profits providing services for the immediate neighborhood. This year the gate proceeds will benefit the West Town Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit providing programs and services for West Town businesses; and also Talcott Elementary School and the Suzuki Orff School of Music.