Wicker Park Fest 2014

Presented by the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce, Wicker Park Fest annually draws over 70,000. This year’s colossal street party presents three stages of continuous live music, a dedicated children’s fun area, an arts section with installation and performance acts, dozens of local vendors and restaurants, and environmentally-friendly production efforts. To top it off, the $5 suggested donation for admittance makes Wicker Park Fest once again the steal of the summer concert season. Live Music: Above all, Wicker Park Fest features live music of the highest quality. “[Wicker Park Fest] boasts a line-up of acts that puts other street fests to shame,” said Selena Fragassi in Chicago magazine 2013. With three stages of live action programmed by Wicker Park’s own Subterranean, this year’s lineup measures up to predecessors, highlighted by headliners like RJD2, JEFF The Brotherhood, Owls, Lydia Loveless, ODESZA and Woods. The two day schedule includes (TBA bands to be revealed in June press release): Saturday, July 26 North Stage 8:30 – Reverend Horton Heat 7:15 – Lydia Loveless 6:00 – Laura Stevenson 4:45 – Hop Along 3:30 – Foxing 2:15 – Trails & Ways 1:00 – Mutts Center Stage 8:45 – Owls 7:30 – Pet Symmetry 6:15 – The Felix Culpa 5:15 – Dr. Manhattan 4:15 – Space Blood South Stage 9:00 – RJD2 7:45 – Nick Waterhouse 6:30 – Jarell Perry 5:15 – Miner 4:00 – Bonzie Sunday, July 27 North Stage 9:00 – JEFF The Brotherhood 7:45 – Diarrhea Planet 6:30 – July Talk 5:15 – Gavin Turek 4:00 – Bailiff 2:45 – Sidewalk Chalk 1:30 – Girl Group Chicago Center Stage 8:45 – Woods 7:30 – Santah 6:15 – Milo & Otis 5:15 – The Hudson Branch 4:15 - Oshwa South Stage 8:30 – ODESZA 7:15 – El Ten Eleven 6:00 – Kodak To Graph 4:45 – Young Widows 3:30 – Maritime 2:15 – Honeyblood 1:00 – Exit Verse Arts Fest: Wicker Park Fest Arts is a dedicated section within Wicker Park Fest showcasing unique and inspired works from some of the best local artists and arts organizations. Wicker Park Fest Arts (in the middle of the action on Milwaukee) features visually-compelling performance and installation artworks. This year, Wicker Park Fest Arts will have two features: 1) An interactive installation by John Bannon called "Eye Candy,” which resembles a giant piece of wrapped candy. It’s an 8' x 15' x 8' flashing neon and steel structure wrapped with layers of holographic Radiant Light Film. The film both transmits and reflects light producing a multitude of colors that change with the day's light and as people move around the piece. Additionally, the flashing neon will be programmed to react to the movement of the crowd. 2) Defibrillator Performance Art Gallery is bringing back their popular Air Pocket Project, which was first presented at Wicker Park Fest Arts in 2012. This year’s performance art exhibition will feature artists whose practice includes inflatable objects in an immersive performance installation environment. Sparking the child within, inflatable objects are immediately accessible by a large demographic and are, by nature, entertaining and engaging. Often interactive, the free standing performance installation is flexible and adaptable to various environments and weather conditions. Wicker Park Fest Arts is presented by the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber and is generously underwritten by the WPB Special Service Area #33. For more information, contact Jessica Wobbekind at Jessica@wickerparkbucktown.org. Kids Fest: Wicker Park is an epicenter for young families. So it’s no surprise that the neighborhood event of the year, Wicker Park Fest, is home to one of the summer’s top ‘kids fests within a fest.’ Kids Fest at Wicker Park Fest offers a wide variety of children’s programming from noon to 6 pm both days (no additional entrance fee required). Kids Fest benefits Jonathan Burr Elementary and is sponsored by Chicago Digital and WPB SSA #33. 2014 Kids Fest activities include: • Kids Fest Stage (lineup TBA in subsequent press release) • Face Painting • Chess Wizards • Lego Robotics • Bounce House • Arts & Crafts Stations • Hair Streaking • Nail Painting • Mary Macaroni • Origami Wicker Park Fest Green Efforts: Wicker Park Fest goes above and beyond the City requirements to provide collection of recycling and composting on festival grounds. The City of Chicago recycling requirements ask for a plan but do not require a demonstration of results. The producers of Wicker Park Fest contract a “green” consultant to ensure that recyclable or compostable materials are properly handled, not contaminated with non-recyclables, and that the materials are actually recycled and don't end up in a landfill. “Eco-Ambassadors” will be available at each waste disposal station to guide people on proper disposal of compostables, recyclables and garbage. This greening program at Wicker Park Fest is sponsored exclusively by the WPB SSA #33. About the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce: The Wicker Park and Bucktown Chamber of Commerce serves as a cornerstone of the Wicker Park and Bucktown commercial districts, advancing the financial goals of neighborhood businesses through the creation of a dynamic economic climate, increasing the neighborhood's visibility and viability, and encouraging profitable relationships within the community. Read more at wickerparkbucktown.com. About the WPB SSA #33: The Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce administers the WPB Special Service Area (SSA #33). SSAs, often known as Business Improvement Districts in other cities, provide a fair and transparent way to finance and manage programs to create, maintain and manage clean, attractive and competitive commercial districts. The SSA is overseen by a Commission of 12 stakeholders in the SSA. We are guided by a Master Plan adopted in 2009 after extensive public input, and we accomplish our work through active committees. Fine Print: Wicker Park Fest is held on Milwaukee Avenue between North Avenue and Paulina, easily accessible by the Blue Line and just minutes from downtown Chicago. Event hours are 12:00 noon – 10:00 p.m. on July 26 and 27 and the gate donation is $5 (donation). Proceeds benefit: Local non-profits (to be announced at a later date) and Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce. Free bike parking will be available at both the North and Paulina gates. Well-behaved dogs on leash are permitted. The Wicker Park Fest Facebook page is facebook.com/wickerparkfestchicago. The website is wickerparkfest.com. The phone number is 773.384.2672. Wicker Park Fest 2014 is sponsored in part by: Chicago Digital and WPB SSA #33.