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| Reviews and Recommendations |
Saturday, November 12
7 a.m. Start
Navy Pier | Chicago (map)
♦The Perfect Run! Chicago's Perfect 10! ♦There are many annual runs on Chicago's lakefront, but there's only one with a start and finish line at scenic Navy Pier ♦The morning includes two events: a 10K run AND a 10-mile run! (There's also an indoor kids' run) ♦When you're finished, don't forget to enjoy the Perfect 10 "Health & Fitness Expo" that runs through that afternoon inside Navy Pier's festival hall!
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Sunday, November 6
7 a.m. to Noon
Willis Tower | Chicago (map)
♦Sprint to the Top! SkyRise Chicago ! ♦Run, walk or jog up the iconic Willis Tower at this popular annual fundraiser that benefits the internationally-acclaimed Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago! ♦It's 2,109 steps (103 floors) from the street to the tower's Skydeck and "Ledge" where you can see four states if the skies are clear! ♦And if registration is filled, some 11th hour wait spots might open. Regardless, you can still support the Rehab Institute by donating to a climber or team!
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Space Park Spooktacular
Sunday, October 30
2pm to 5pm
Space Park (815 W. Roscoe St. @ Halsted) | Chicago (map)
♦Kids' Halloween "Spooktacular"! Details @ Northalsted.com! ♦While adults will be getting ghoulish at Monday's Northalsted Halloween Parade on October 31, kids' and families can enjoy their very own "Spooktacular" celebration on Sunday afternoon, October 30, at Space Park, 815 W. Roscoe ♦Festivities run from 2:00-5:00 p.m. and include fun games & activities, clowns, a costume contest (for kids 12 and under) PLUS tons of special guest entertainers!
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Sunday, October 16
8:00 a.m. Start
415 West Eighth Street | Hinsdale, Illinois (map)
♦Run in Hinsdale this Sunday! Rotary Run Charity Classic! ♦Not participating in this weekend's Chicago Marathon? You have a great alternative! Head west for this 17th annual DuPage County event benefiting The Community House, District 181 Foundation, Hinsdale Humane Society, Rotary Charities and the Adventist Hinsdale Hospital Rooney Heart Center. ♦Participants have several choices: the Rooney 5K (and NEW 10K) Runs, a 3K Run, a 5K Walk and the always-popular "Mutt Strut" for pets!
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Friday to Sunday, October 7-9
Friday & Saturday: 9am to 9pm | Sunday: 9am to 6pm
Downtown St. Charles, IL (map)
♦Incredible Fall Fun! Scarecrow Fest! ♦Whether you live in the city or burbs, you need to check out this hugely popular annual event in west suburban St. Charles! Non-stop fun for all ages! ♦Great local cuisine! An awesome arts & crafts show! Carnival rides! 100,000-plus visitors! "Canine Corner" with pet care vendors, wiener dog races and more! Live music! ♦PLUS see (and vote for your favorite) traditional, whimsical and mechanical scarecrows. More than 150 groovy "straw people" on display at this sprawling fest on the Fox River!
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Saturday, October 1
8:30am - 5K Run | 8:45am - 10K Run | 8:50am - 5K Walk
Grant Park (Columbus & Balbo) | Chicago (map)
♦Get Moving! AIDS Run & Walk Chicago! ♦Join in the battle against HIV/AIDS at this popular annual fundraising event. Proceeds benefit the programs of AIDS Foundation of Chicago and more than 125 affiliated service organizations ♦Plus enjoy music/entertainment galore and the Health & Fitness Village ♦Eclectic course route and post-run entertainment including Chicago Spirit Brigade, R&B artist Adam Emil, the Windy City Cowboys, Yale Middle School Dance Club, DJ Casper, Inaside Dance and many more!
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Friday to Sunday, September 23-25
Friday: 5 pm to 10 pm; Saturday: 11 am to 10 pm; Sunday: 11 am to 7 pm
Southport & Lincoln Ave | Chicago (map)
♦Grab the Lederhosen! Oktoberfest Chicago at St. Alphonsus! ♦Say hello to the first weekend of autumn at one of Chicago's most popular Bavarian celebrations! ♦Three days of beer, brats and music! And don't forget Sunday's "Kinderfest" ♦Fun for the whole family! ♦PLUS music both indoors and outside with the Polkaholics, Sixteen Candles, The Bratwurst Brothers, the Trippin' Billies and Die Musikmeisters!
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Friday & Saturday, September 16-17
Friday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Roscoe Village (Damen & Roscoe) | Chicago (map)
♦Incredible Music, Food & Brew! Guinness Oyster Fest! ♦Expanded in 2011! Celebrate fall with non-stop music on Friday evening and all-day Saturday in the heart of Roscoe Village ♦PLUS raw & cooked oysters! Fantastic beers! ♦Music performances by iconic British electro-posters The Human League; California alt-rockers Alien Ant Farm; Canadian synth-popsters Men Without Hats; Chicago's Scotland Yard Gospel Choir; and many more! ♦ALSO check out Saturday's way cool Irish music & entertainment stage!
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Saturday and Sunday, September 10-11
10am-10pm on Saturday and 10am - 8pm on Sunday
On N. Wells St. between North Ave. and Schiller | Chicago (map)
♦Summer's Not Over Yet! Wells Street Fall Fest! ♦Non-stop rockin music! 50-plus artists! Yummy food from Old Town restaurants! ♦Music performances by acclaimed alt-rockers Marcy Playground, blues/folk rocker Cathy Richardson, Missouri alt-rockers The Get Up Kids, the eclectic sounds of Super Happy Fun Club and many more! ♦PLUS check out the ALL-NEW Galleria Liqueurs Wine Tent with special-priced samplings each afternoon!
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Saturday and Sunday, September 3-4
Noon to 10pm Daily
On Ravenswood from Belle Plaine to Berteau | Chicago (map)
♦Chicago's New Eco-Friendly Art & Music Fest! Ravenswood Remix! ♦Get ready for some clever and edgy art made from recycled and found materials at this all-new fest on Labor Day Weekend! ♦There's also food and way cool workshops (faux finishings, mosaics, organic composting, etc.) ♦PLUS an incredible music lineup with nearly 20 acts including The Verve Pipe's Brian Vander Ark, psychedelic rockers Apteka, and groovy alt-rockers Sybris!
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Saturday and Sunday, August 27-28
11 am to 10 pm Daily
Lake Shore Park (808 North Lake Shore Dr) | Chicago (map)
♦Party in the Shadow of Skyscrapers! StreeterFest! ♦Celebrate the (almost) end of summer at Chicago's newest street fest held near the shore of Lake Michigan! ♦This inaugural downtown Chicago festival in the majestic Streeterville neighborhood features music, arts & crafts and the yummy cuisine of StrEATerville food vendors! ♦Among the hot stage acts: jazz/funksters Liquid Soul, Beatles tribute band American English, and celebrate The Dave Matthews Band with the music of the Trippin' Billies!
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Saturday and Sunday, August 13-14
11 am to 10 pm Daily
On Halsted from Belmont to Addison | Chicago (map)
♦Join THE PARTY! Northalsted Market Days! ♦It's non-stop fun, music and more at the Midwest's largest two-day summer street fest! More than 40 acts on four stages, 400+ food and arts/craft vendors PLUS people-watching galore! ♦HOT MUSIC HEADLINERS: Glee's Darren Criss, disco legend Ms. Gloria Gaynor, America's Got Talent's Prince Poppycock, Tony Hadley from Spandau Ballet, pop/R&B chanteuse Lisa Lisa, '70s soulstress Maxine Nightingale, and many more!
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Friday to Sunday, August 5-7
Friday: 3:30pm to 10pm | Saturday: 8:30am to 10pm | Sunday: 8am to 6pm
Elk Grove Blvd & Ridge Ave | Elk Grove Village, IL (map)
♦The Midwest's #1 Professional Cycling Event! Alexian Brothers Tour of Elk Grove! ♦See more than 1,100 of the world's top professional and amateur riders compete in 16 races for $150,000 in TOTAL PRIZE MONEY! ♦FREE FOR SPECTATORS! Three days of exciting races including the showcase Men's Pro 3-Day, 3-Stage Race! ♦Spectator Area, Sports/Vendor Expo, Kids'/Family Fest Area, Women's Races, and Community Races! ♦PLUS two evenings of "Block Parties" (Friday and Saturday nights) with food, great live music and fireworks!
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Saturday & Sunday, July 30-31
Noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday | 11am to 10 p.m. on Sunday
N. Lincoln Avenue between Fullerton & Wrightwood | Chicago (map)
♦Awesome Music! NEW Crafts Art Fair! Kids' Carnival! Taste of Lincoln Avenue! ♦One of Chicago's most popular summer street fests! ♦For starters, nearly 40 music acts on four stages, 20+ food vendors and more than 300 booths ♦PLUS: Wildly popular free Kids' Carnival area... NEW "Lill Street Craft Fair" ♦FANTASTIC MUSIC: Toad the Wet Sprocket, Carbon Leaf, Sister Hazel, kids' fave Tom Chapin, blues legend Johnny Winter, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir ... and many more!
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Thursday to Sunday, July 21-24
Thursday: 5p -11p | Friday: 5p-11p | Saturday: Noon-11p | Sunday: Noon - 11p
Downtown Des Plaines, IL (map)
♦Hot Summer Fun! Des Plaines Summer Fling! ♦Have tons of fun with music, food galore, arts & crafts, kids' stuff + much more! ♦The friendly near northwest suburb rolls out its all-new summer party that replaces the Taste of Des Plaines ♦There's something for everyone including carnival rides, new Pearson Street Art Fair PLUS the music of 10,000 Maniacs, Led Zeppelin 2, 7th Heaven and local/hometown rock acts!
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Saturday & Sunday, July 16 & 17
Noon to 10pm Daily
On Racine between Fullerton & Webster | Chicago (map)
♦Great Art & Fine Music!? Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival! ♦Art from over 80+ artists line the streets of Lincoln Park ... along with lots of kids' activities! ♦Music acts include The Freddy Jones Band ... singer/songwriters Trevor Hall, Tony Lucca and Jeffrey David Goldford ... Chicago roots rockers the YellowHammers ... and the Latin vibes of Caliente.
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Tuesday, July 12
6:30 p.m. Start
U.S. Cellular Field (333 W 35th St) | Chicago (map)
♦Be An All-Star for a Great Cause! Strike Out ALS 5K! ♦A truly unique opportunity to run outside and inside U.S. Cellular Field and fight Lou Gehrig's disease! It's a first-time event at the home of the White Sox ♦Then relax to enjoy a post-run party and watch the live broadcast of baseball's 2011 All-Star game on the Cell's Jumbotron!
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Saturday & Sunday, July 9-10
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Daily
Belmont & Damen, Roscoe Village | Chicago (map)
♦Yummy Burgers & Rockin' Music! Roscoe Village Burger Fest! ♦Enjoy the best burgers in town at this fantastic food and music extravaganza. Vendors include Goose Island Brewpubs, Hamburger Mary's, The Village Tap, John's Place and more! ♦In PLUS non-stop music on two stages! ♦Catch performances by Foghat, The Smithereens, Canasta, Todd Carey, Super Happy Fun Club and many more!
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Friday to Monday, July 1-4
Friday: 3pm-11pm | Saturday 7 Sunday: Noon-11pm | Monday: Noon-8pm
Bushwood Golf Practice Center (30 Madison Street) | Maywood (map)
♦Stay Cool @ This Hot New Fest! Bushwood 4th of July RibFest ! ♦Celebrate the long Independence Day Weekend with finger lickin' ribs and fours days of music at this NEW near-west suburban fest! ♦In addition to rib vendors, the rockin' music lineup includes include dance popsters Libido Funk Circus (Friday); Led Zeppelin tribute band Kashmir (Saturday); and '80s music rockers Bad Medicine (Sunday) and Evolution (Monday).
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Saturday & Sunday, June 25-26
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Daily
Downtown Evanston | Illinois (map)
♦Have An "Arty" Good Time in Downtown Evanston! Fountain Square Art Festival! ♦Had your fill of art fests yet? Ready for something different and unique? ♦Relax and enjoy this iconic annual arts showcase that features the eclectic works of 225-plus juried artists ♦It's the North Shore's largest and oldest fine arts fair. ♦PLUS: Check the Evanston Art Center's interactive activities tent for kids. And take a break to enjoy jazz on the fest's music stage!
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Saturday & Sunday, June 18-19
10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Daily
Main St. & Chicago Ave | Evanston (map)
♦Truly Eclectic! Custer's Last Stand! ♦Had your fill of art fests yet? Ready for something different and unique? ♦You'll be surprised at this sprawling arts extravaganza in Evanston, now celebrating its 40th year ♦Nearly 400 booths, including sidewalk sales vendors and antiques; an "EcoVillage" sponsored by Whole Foods Market; two stages with unique music; food galore; fantastic kids' stuff (trust us!); and much more!
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Saturday & Sunday, June 11-12
10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Daily
On N. Wells Street, between North Avenue and Division Street | Chicago (map)
♦Fantastic Art + Great Music! Wells Street Art Festival! ♦Fun in the sun! The iconic Midwest art showcase returns for its 37th year with more than 250 juried artists ♦PLUS the sumptuous cuisine of local Old Town eateries ♦And be sure to check out music stage headliners 10,000 Maniacs on Saturday, and Beatles tribute band American English on Sunday.
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Saturday & Sunday, June 4-5
Noon to 10pm Daily
Addison & Sheffield | Chicago(map)
♦Chicago's Hottest New Street Fest! SausageFest Chicago! ♦Celebrate encased meats with scorching hot music at this all-new event on Sheffield Avenue next to Wrigley Field! ♦In addition to the city's best sausage makers, the rockin' music lineup includes funk/rockers Ella Riot and acclaimed local rock/popsters Treaty of Paris and the Smoking Popes ♦PLUS celebrate the crowning of the "Sausage King of Chicago" on Saturday afternoon!
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Saturday & Sunday, May 28-29
Noon to 10pm Daily
Belmont & Sheffield | Chicago(map)
♦Are You Ready for Summer? Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest! ♦Enjoy Memorial Day Weekend at the party that kicks off Chicago's summer street fest season! ♦Boogie from Noon til dusk near the Belmont "L" stop with the Midwest's best tribute bands: 7th Heaven ... Wedding Banned ... Too White Crew ... Hairbanger's Ball ... Rock Candy ... and many more! ♦Plus food, brew and arts & crafts!
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Sunday, May 22
8:00 a.m. Start
Montrose Harbor | Chicago(map)
♦It's All About Mind Wellness at C4 Miles: Making Strides for Mental Health! ♦This 4th annual event raises awareness of mental health and money for the invaluable programs and services of the Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4) ♦PLUS! The largest and fastest teams win Cubs tickets!
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Sunday, May 15
7:00 a.m. Start
Main St. and Chestnut St. | Rockford (map)
♦Rockin' & Runnin'! The Rockford Marathon! ♦Take a drive out to laidback Rockford this weekend and enjoy their annual marathon on Sunday! ♦Cheer as runners compete in a full- and half-marathon along the scenic Rock River ♦There's also a community expo near the downtown Rockford start/finish line with vendors and local al-rockers TRaSH '80s! ♦Arriving early? There's a Marathon pasta dinner ($12-17) that's open to all on Saturday night from 5:00-9:00 p.m. at the Best Western Clock Tower Resort.
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Friday to Sunday, May 6-8
Fri. - 6pm to 11pm; Sat. & Sun. - 2pm to 11pm
26th Street & Kostner (Little Village) | Chicago (map)
♦Celebrate! At Little Village's Cinco de Mayo Festival! ♦Although officially May 5, Chicago's Little Village neighborhood will celebrate both the Mexican army's victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 and Mexican culture! ♦A truly authentic cultural happening, this 2nd annual three-day fest features great food ... fantastic live music ... arts & crafts ... activities for families and children ... and fun galore!
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Thursday, April 28
6 p.m. Start
Grant Park (Intersection of Columbus & Roosevelt) | Chicago (map)
♦Shake off those winter blues! Run for the Trees! ♦Join Chicago Gateway Green and celebrity guests including Ryan Chiaverini and Valerie Warner for this 5K & 3K Run/Walk. ♦All proceeds benefits the Tree Partnership Program and its goal of planting 15,000 trees in Chicago by 2015.
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Saturday, Arpil 23
9 a.m. Start
Montrose Harbor (Intersection of Simonds/Montrose, Southwest corner of the grove) | Chicago (map)
♦Save the Big Cat! Run for the Cheetah! ♦There's only an estimated 12,000 left on the whole planet. You can help save this exotic and elegant animal from extinction! ♦Proceeds from this 4th annual 5K run and kids' dash benefit the invaluable programs of the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
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Saturday, Arpil 16
8 a.m. Start
Wrigley Field (Clark St. & Addison) | Chicago (map)
♦Finish under the famed Wrigley Field Marquee! Race to Wrigley 5K! ♦Road race through the streets of Lakeview! ♦Start fundraising now for Chicago's Memorial Hospital -- great incentives for top fundraisers! ♦Online registration closes Thursday, April 14 -- don't miss out!
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Sunday, March 20
10 a.m. Start
Fullerton Pkwy & Cannon Dr (2430 N. Cannon Drive) | Chicago (map)
♦Erin Go Bragh! St. Paddy's 5K & Special Olympics 8K Run/Walk & Leprechaun Leap! ♦'Be Seen ... Be Green' in Lincoln Park! ♦Leprechaun Leap -- Kids' Dash -- starts at approximately 11:15 ♦Post race party with LIVE performances from the Trinity Irish Dancers, The Cannadys and more!
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Wednesday, January 5
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
State of Illinois Building (LaSalle & Lake Streets) | Chicago (map)
♦Attention Downtown Workers & Residents! New Year LifeStyle Fair ! ♦Check out this 5th annual event in the atrium lobby of the Thompson Center (aka State of Illinois Building) ♦Stop by this FREE happening in Chicago's Loop and be treated to product samplings as well as health, fitness, finance and other expert advice to help you live better in 2011!
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Saturday, January 1, 2011
11 a.m. Start
Lincoln Park (Stockton Drive & LaSalle) | Chicago (map)
♦First 5K of the New Decade! New Year's Day Run & Walk! ♦Start 2011 on a healthy footing at this annual 5K run & walk in Lincoln Park! ♦Celebrating its 26th year, the fun starts at 11:00 a.m. (in case you were celebrating the night before) and includes a festive post-run/walk gathering at Sedgwick's Bar & Grill.
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