WICKER PARK — Perhaps you should make that health food resolution start in February — tickets for the inaugural Donut Fest go on sale Monday.
On Jan. 26, doughnut makers will bring their best crullers and Long Johns to Wicker Park and vie for the title of "Best Donut in Chicago."
Held at the Chop Shop's 1st Ward, 2033 W. North Ave., Donut Fest will offer doughnut samples from 15 restaurants and coffee from five local roasters.
Glazed and Infused, Doughnut Vault and West Town Bakery are among the vendors scheduled to participate, with organizer Alyssa Erickson hoping to bring three more bakeries and restaurants on board soon.
Expected to go on sale at noon Monday on the fest's website, tickets are $45 for "VIP hour" from 8 to 9 a.m. and $30 for general admission from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The winner will be determined by a panel of judges selected by Erickson, while a "crowd favorite" will be determined by popular vote from ticket holders.
"No one's going to turn down doughnuts," said Erickson, who has partnered with Rebecca Skoch, the creator of Poutine Fest, to put on the event.
Donut Fest is a side gig for Erickson, a Lakeview resident who was inspired by a cinnamon crunch doughnut from Do-Rite Donuts in the Loop and a coworker who said he would go to an all-doughnut festival.
"He said, 'I would go to that,' and I thought, 'Hmm, this should happen,'" said Erickson, who hopes to make the fest an annual event.
VIP access allows early entry, a tasting of donuts from each of the vendors, three coffee tickets plus a special ticket from sponsor Dark Matter Coffee. The ticket also includes a limited edition Donut Fest mug inside a gift bag courtesy of Dark Matter Coffee.
General admission tickets include everything that VIP status does, except for the early admission.
A tasting includes one-fourth of a doughnut from each vendor.
While children are welcome as long as they have a ticket, strollers are not permitted, according to the event organizers.
Proceeds from ticket sales will go to Un86'd, a nonprofit that helps restaurant industry workers in need.
For event updates, visit donutfest.com, or follow the fest on Twitter, @DonutFest.
