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Six Corners BBQ Fest, Jeff Park Arts and Music Fest Announce Lineups

By Heather Cherone | May 24, 2013 7:49am | Updated on May 24, 2013 11:15am
  The Six Corners BBQ Fest promises food, fun and music.
Six Corners BBQ Fest Lineup Set
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CHICAGO — The third annual Six Corners BBQ Fest set for June 15-16 will give meat lovers a chance to chow down on succulent ribs, chicken and sausage while raising money for local arts projects.

In addition to meat dripping in tangy sauce, the National Veterans Art Museum and the Filament Theatre Ensemble, which both moved to the Six Corners Shopping District in the last year, will be showcased at the fest.

The museum, which features art by military veterans, will host a participatory art experience at 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave., its new home.

Members of the Filament Theatre Ensemble will roam the fest and perform snippets of classic romantic scenes from Shakespeare's plays as part of a performance dubbed  "A Muse in Love."

Arts Alive 45, a nonprofit group that works to craft public art throughout the 45th Ward, will turn part of the fest's kids corner into a miniature golf course, and the Northwest Art Connection will host an arts tent.

Organizers will ask attendees for a $5 donation, and all proceeds will go to community arts groups.

Ed Bannon, executive director of the Six Corners Business Association, said the fest is part of an effort to revitalize the once-bustling shopping district by turning it into an arts and entertainment mecca.

"It's a smart business decision" to push the area's economic development through the arts, Bannon said.

"It feels good, too," Bannon said.

Backyard grill masters can put their skills to the test starting at 8 a.m. June 16. Judging will take place at 4 p.m., and the winner of the Bungalow Belt will be announced at 6 p.m.

World Wrestling Entertainment's Eugene, Gangrel and Mr. USA Tony Atlas will appear at the fest at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday. From noon to 4 p.m. on both days, attendees can hit the mat and try sumo wrestling.

The three-day Jeff Park Arts and Music Fest is set for July 26-28 at Jefferson Memorial Park, 4822 N. Long Ave. Dot Dot Dot, Magic Box and the Michael McDermott Band will headline the festival.

Food trucks from across the city will offer festivalgoers an alternative to the usual fare of funnel cakes and hot dogs.

Linder Avenue along the park will be transformed into an outdoor artisan market by Urban Folk Circuit, the city's year-round, traveling craft market.

Attendees can watch sculptors, photographers and studio artists practice their craft at Art in the Making events throughout the weekend. 

Photographers can enter their work in a juried contest produced by the Chicago Creative Coalition. The winner will take home $500. Participants should submit four images and $35 online to enter the contest.

The fest will feature a bounce house for children, as well as face painters, jugglers, stilt walkers, games and shows as well as art projects and theater and dance performances, including a drum circle.

Jeff Fest admission is $7, or $5 before 5 p.m. Children 12 and younger will be admitted free.