We are a non-profit,
all-volunteer run, celebration of the arts.

A neighborhood tradition, all proceeds from the fest go to fund, develop and support arts education programming at Holstein Park and in the Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhoods.

 

  • Four artists in the park.

    It all began one hot Chicago summer in the early ’80s, when four neighborhood artists (Bob Smeltzer, Joe Kotzman, Tony Cachapero, and Rodney Patterson) decided to have an art fair — a picnic in the park. Rodney suggested that it might be a good opportunity for local artists to show and share their work to each other and to their neighbors.

    read more about our history

  • Meet the artists.

    Our artists are not mass producers. They are individual artists who are at their booths to share their work with you. Each year, our jury selects 190 artists to be invited to the fest.

    For some, this is the only show they participate in each year. Others travel across the country to share their art with Chicago.

    From sculpture to fine art to jewelry, we’re sure you’ll find something to love.

    get to know our artists

  • Free to the public.

    Going strong for almost 40 years. What began as four artists showing their work in the park has grown into a community tradition that hosts an estimated 30,000 people each year.

    Our fest is free to the public. We have no gates and no donation request. True to our roots, we are an arts fest put together by the community, for our community.

  • No paid staff. 

    We are organized, implemented, and managed by a committed group of volunteers, some of whom have been doing so for 15 years or more. Outside of gratitude, their only reward is pizza at our monthly meetings.

    More than 200 volunteers sign up to work 2-hour shifts on the weekend of the fest to keep things running smoothly. Some even arrive with us at 5:30 am on Saturday or leave with us at 10 pm on Sunday. Together, we build a small city, take it down, and get it all cleaned up by Monday morning. We could not do what we do without their dedication.

    volunteer with us!

  • Financial transparency.

    Our artist booth fees are currently $300 (or $200 for senior artists, ages 60 and over). These are among the lowest, if not the lowest, booth fees in the city. Other fests range from $400 to $1200 per booth. We save big by having no paid staff.

    Roughly 60% of the fest is paid for by artist and food vendor fees. 40% comes from beer, sangria, and merchandise sales.

    When the fest is over, we keep one year’s worth of our expenses in savings and we spend the rest to support arts education in our neighborhood.

    see what we fund

  • Gratitude.

    FOR OUR COMMITTEE
    We are grateful for the stewardship of our wonderful committee of 30+ people who put their hearts into building a city for a weekend to watch it thrive – and then tear it down like we were never there.

    FOR OUR COMMUNITY
    We are grateful to:
    - Alderman Scott Waguespack and Elizabeth Gomez for always helping us maintain this neighborhood tradition.

    The Chicago Park District and the incredible staff of Holstein Park, especially Deb Maddox and Shannon English, Holstein Park supervisor.

    The Mayor’s Office of Special Events and the Chicago Police 14th District for their continued support.

    Our neighbors who put up with inconvenient street closures in the name of art and community.

    And, of course, our amazingly devoted volunteers, without whom we would not exist.

    Thank you for the love that you have shown us over the years. We can’t wait to see you again at the park!