JEFFERSON PARK — If your name is Jeff, this is your weekend.
Jeff Fest, which starts Friday and runs through Sunday, will offer something for everyone, including music, aerial dance, drum circles, food trucks, craft beer, a photo show, a family picnic area and urban crafters.
Admission is free Friday for everyone named Jeff — from Jeff Smith to Bob Jefferson — with proper identification, of course.
Rock and pop cover band Shape Shifter will headline the festival's main stage Friday, while Chicago-based alternative pop-rock band The Bad Examples will headline Saturday, and rock-country band Brushville will close out the festival Sunday.
The festival at Jefferson Memorial Park, 4822 N. Long Ave., will feature local beer — including suds from Portage Park-based Lake Effect Brewing — and local food from Gale Street Inn.
Attendees will get a chance to play an instrument — and even decorate a drum and take it home — and feel the beat as part of John Yosts’ Drum Circle on Saturday and Sunday.
Aerial Dance Chicago will unveil a new spinning hoop piece with aerial fabric and trapeze artists from 3-4 p.m. Sunday. After the performance, audience members can try their hands at aerial dance and acrobatics.
The second annual PhotoArt Fest II will take place during the festival, with a selection of the contest entries picked by judges exhibited at the fest. Fest-goers can select the winning People’s Choice photo.
Admission is $7 per person, or $5 before 5 p.m., with those younger than 12 admitted free. Outside food, coolers and alcohol are prohibited, but lawn chairs are welcome.
Proceeds from the festival have funded 25 student scholarships and Jefferson Park business-focused events. Four scholarships will be presented at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Festival hours are 6-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday and noon-10 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, go to jefffest.org.
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