LOGAN SQUARE — There will be no shortage of things to do this weekend with Brazil Fest, The Boulevard Fest and Summer Sessions on the Square all happening practically on top of each other on Logan Boulevard and at the Illinois Centennial Monument.
Brazil Fest and The Boulevard art and music fest — both presented by Star Events — will start things off with music, food and activities for kids beginning at 5 p.m. Friday and continuing from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
In its second year, Brazil Fest was part of The Boulevard last year, but organizers said it was so popular they decided to separate it completely.
So, this year will feature more Brazilian fun and food, including lots of Samba, MPB (Música Popular Brasileira or Brazilian pop music) and Brazilian hip hop.
There will also be carnival-style parades, drumming performances, and demonstrations of capoeira — a mesmerizing style of martial arts that at times almost looks like break dancing — and a traditional Afro Brazilian dance called maculelê.
While Brazil Fest will be taking place on the square itself, The Boulevard will be happening simultaneously on Logan Boulevard itself.
In its fourth year, The Boulevard bills itself primarily as a music festival, boasting a lineup of "up-and-coming" Chicago bands put together by indie promoter Silver Wrapper.
The Boulevard will feature plenty of food and drink of its own, including local craft beers and tastes from many of Logan Square's favorite eateries.
More information and a full schedule of performances can be found on the fest's website.
And if all that weren't enough. One of only two concerts this year from the Summer Sessions on the Square folks will take place at 5 p.m. Saturday.
The free summer concert series started in 2009 "as a way as a way to bring the neighborhood together around a diverse array of accessible music provided by local groups."
However, organizers say lack of funds reduce the series to just two concerts this year, with the second happening to fall on the same day as the other festivals.
The Summer Sessions lineup for Saturday can be found here.
