The nonprofit Rogers Park Business Alliance (RPBA) is excited to announce a vibrant summer of public programs that cater to event goers of all ages. Programming includes a wide span of the neighborhood’s most popular entertainments, from art festivals, a Pride event for families, to taco extravaganzas and additional programming at two outdoor Alfrescos. All events are free to the public, except the Taco Crawl ticketed at $20-30. For more information and event updates, visit RPBA.org.
Photo credits from left to right: Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival, courtesy of Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival. Tacos from El Charro, courtesy of Rogers Park Business Alliance. Artists of the Wall, courtesy of Artists of the Wall Festival. Chalk Howard Street, photo by Chris Guillen.
The complete list of summer events in Rogers Park is as follows, in chronological order:
Art Fest: 31th annual Artists of the Wall
June 15-16 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.,
1096 W Pratt Blvd
Free admission, with painting spaces available for purchase
A beloved Father’s Day weekend tradition, this long-standing community festival will feature 160 murals, live music, and kids’ activities. Artists, neighbors, and families in Rogers Park and from across the city will paint sections of a 600-foot-long beach wall, with pre-registered mural spots available for purchase. This year’s theme will be “Community Dreams” and registration for spaces will occur online on May 1st, 3rd, and 5th at 8 a.m. with 50 spaces available each day. A form will be available to enter a lottery with one entry per family/household allowed. Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic and blanket while enjoying the festival, and check out the walking trails, natural dunes, picnic grounds, a fishing pier, lighthouse, nearby restaurants, bookstores, and giftshops. This event is organized by Loyola Park Advisory Council. Visit www.loyolapark.com for more information.
LGBTQ+: Jarvis Square Family Pride Fest
June 30 from 12 – 10 p.m.
1500-1508 W. Jarvis Ave
Free admission
Jarvis Square Pride Fest is a much-anticipated event rounding out Chicago’s LGBT Pride weekend. Now in its seventh year, Jarvis Square Family Pride features a main stage, kids’ area, dance floor, vendors and a unique neighborhood block-party atmosphere that welcomes a diverse audience to celebrate the biggest holiday in the LGBT+ community. Located a few train stops from the parade, Jarvis Square Pride Fest is becoming a favorite stop during the Pride Weekend for an exuberant yet spacious and friendly party. This event is organized by R Public House and local businesses at Jarvis Square. Visit www.jarvissquarechicago.org for more information.
Food Fest: Taco Crawl
July 18 from 3 – 7 p.m.
North Clark Street between Devon and Rogers Avenues
Advance tickets $20, walk-up tickets $30
Over a dozen of restaurants lining North Clark Street—one of the city’s utmost dining destinations for Mexican restaurants—offer their signature menu items for a taco extravaganza. Participating restaurants and an event menu will be announced later.
Art Fest: 23rd annual Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest
August 16-18
On Morse between Wayne and Greenview and Glenwood between Pratt and Lunt
Free admission
For over two decades, the Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest (GAAF) has been a beacon of artistic celebration, embodying grassroots spirit and volunteer-driven ethos within Chicago. Organized by the community, this immersive weekend event showcases over 100 artists and craftworkers of all disciplines, including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, ceramics, glass, textile, metal, and mixed media, invites attendees to explore open studios and booths. The festival will kick off with live music performances Friday night at the Cobblestone Jam from 6 – 10 p.m., followed by the outdoor Artists’ Market throughout the rest of the weekend featuring kids’ artmaking activities, live performance art, artmaking demonstrations, and food and drinks from local restaurants. The Artists’ Market will be open on Saturday, August 16 from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. This event is organized by Glenwood Avenue Arts District Committee. Visit www.glenwoodave.org for more information.
Art Fest: Chalk Howard Street
August 24 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Howard St. from Ashland to Paulina
Free admission, with drawing spaces available for purchase
Chicago’s only 3D chalk art festival Chalk Howard Street invites national and local street artists, neighbors, families, and street art lovers to transform Howard Street in Rogers Park into a creative canvas. Chalk Howard Street features internationally renowned 3D street artists and local 2D chalk artists, as well as emerging artists and kids’ art that will create vivid and interactive chalk drawings for art lovers, families and summer fest-goers. The family-friendly festival in Rogers Park will highlight the street's shops, restaurants, and global cuisine, plus it will offer street squares available for purchase to the public and includes live music while offering striking and immersive street art experiences. Enjoy live music, great food and drinks and many opportunities to experience art. Visit https://www.howardstreetchicago.com/chalk-howard-street for more information.
Alfrescos in Rogers Park
Throughout the summer starting May 14
The Glenwood Alfresco and Jarvis Square Alfresco will host additional free events throughout the summer ranging from live music concerts, theatrical performances, Pride events to artisan markets. For more information and updates on the additional events, visit RPBA.org.
Rogers Park Business Alliance is a nonprofit organization that has served Chicago’s diverse Rogers Park neighborhood for more than 30 years. RPBA works to cultivate and sustain a thriving economic environment in Rogers Park, serving businesses and residents with a variety of public events and business initiatives. RPBA programs include the GROW/PROGRESANDO entrepreneurial training program, the Illinois Small Business Development Center at RPBA, annual Best of Rogers Park awards, Chalk Howard Street Festival, Taco Crawl, and the Glenwood Sunday Market farmers market. For more information, visit RPBA.org.