AUBURN GRESHAM — The 79th Street Renaissance Festival is urging vendors to apply for this September's festivities, which attract attendees from the South Side neighborhood and beyond.
Not certified? The Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation is offering a free class for residents in May.
The 10th annual 79th Street Renaissance Festival is September 12. Cecelia Harris, the festival's fundraiser and event planner, said that nearly 15,000 people attend the all-day fair and last year, 80 vendors participated.
"The festival unifies the community, but people come from everywhere, not just Auburn Gresham, it's very diverse," Harris said.
Vendors who want to set up a tent at the festival must pay a $250 fee and be properly certified. As with all outdoor events and festivals, an Outdoor Food Vendor License is required, she said.
There are retailers and performances at the festival as well, but it's always the variety of local food that brings people out, Harris said.
She said it's important for vendors to make sure they're certified if they want to set up at the festival.
"It's a safety measure because we're adamant about making sure that those who participate in food know the rules of game so we won't have any problems with contamination," she said.
To help, the nonprofit is once again, partnering with the City of Chicago to bring a summer food certification class to the community. The class will be held from 9 a.m.-noon Thursday at Mr. Gee's Supper Club, 1547 W. 87th St.
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