UPTOWN — Redmoon Theater is partnering with Uptown community groups Sunday for a celebration in Buttercup Park.
Leading up to the inaugural Great Chicago Fire Festival, fest organizer Redmoon Theater is holding events in communities across Chicago, including the event in Uptown, which will feature a break dancing battle, arts activities, grilling and more.
The festivities are scheduled from 2 p.m to 5 p.m. at Buttercup Park, 4901 N. Sheridan Rd. It's being sponsored by Redmoon, the Buttercup Park Advisory Council, the office of Ald. Harry Osterman (48th), RefugeeOne and Uptown's economic development organization, Uptown United.
The Fire Festival, which the city hopes becomes a defining event, was created by Redmoon to build unity among Chicago neighborhoods and showcase the city's strength. Burning sculptures floating on the Chicago River, food, drinks, acrobatics, music and dancing are all part of the planned festivities scheduled for Oct. 4.
As Uptown United President Alyssa Berman-Cutler explained, the fest aims to memorialize the devastating 1871 fire while focusing on Chicago's resilience — from the fire's aftermath to today. She said it deals with questions of "how do we as a city change ourselves, come back from things."
"It's something very powerful about our people," she said.
At Uptown's Windy City Ribfest last month, Redmoon photographed Uptown residents holding up signs "about what they've overcome in their life," that Berman-Cutler said will be displayed on the river during the October festival.
Berman-Cutler said Redmoon is bringing "all kinds of crazy machines" to Uptown on Sunday.
Redmoon, a Pilsen-based company known for interactive shows, often uses complex machines for performances, including the Two Rooms Machine (a couple of small stages that can be lowered and raised) and the Sonic Boom, a wheeled, 27-foot stage and wagon fitted with speakers and subwoofers.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
