LINCOLN SQUARE — Residents can attend not one, not two, but three area festivals this weekend — along with a neighborhood garden walk, garage sales and even a hoedown.
Square Roots fest from Friday to Sunday features multiple music stages programmed by the Old Town School, and include an eclectic lineup of bands that leans heavily toward folk, roots and world music sounds.
The fest is also a beer lover's dream, with nearly a dozen craft breweries pouring more than 30 of their finest ales, porters and lagers. Heads up: Founders Brewing is bringing a limited quantity of its Kentucky Breakfast Stout, which packs a wallop at 11.2 percent ABV.
The fest kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday and runs through 8 p.m. Sunday on Lincoln Avenue between Wilson and Montrose avenues. A $10 donation is suggested, $5 for kids.
Can't get enough of the roots theme? Mosey on over to Ravenswood Manor Park for a bonafide hoedown, 7 p.m. Friday, 4604 N. Manor Ave. The Golden Horse Ranch Band will have you swinging your partner like a pro by the end of the evening.
Irish Fest, scheduled for Friday to Sunday at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave., features all things Irish, including Irish music, Irish dancing, Irish food, Irish crafts, Irish beer and Irish whiskey.
The entertainment lineup features 100 performers on five stages. Admission is $15 and children 12 and under are free. The fest starts at 6 p.m. Friday and continues through 11 p.m. Sunday.
If beef patties are more your speed, head to the intersection of Belmont and Damen avenues for the Roscoe Village Burger Fest, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Cortland's Garage will defend its 2012 Critics' Choice Best Burger title against 13 challengers, including Banh Mi & Company, which is hinting at grilling up a creation that combines Vietnamese meatballs with BBQ pork.
This family-friendly fest also features a popular Kids Zone area, with games and activities for the little ones.
Looking for something a little more relaxing? Try the Bowmanville Garden Walk, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Pick up a map at the walk's welcome table, 5384 N. Bowmanville Ave., and wander your way through the neighborhood's charming landscapes. Or hang out at the welcome area and bend the ear of one of the master gardeners on hand.
The walk is set for 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday. A $3 donation is suggested.
The garage sale season keeps rolling this weekend in the Independence Park neighborhood. From 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, hunt for hidden treasures in the area bounded by Pulaski Road, Central Park Avenue, Irving Park Road and the Kennedy Expressway.
