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Read the press release here.

Albany Park's Eclectic Culture the Focus of Weekend's Inaugural World Fest

By Patty Wetli | August 14, 2014 7:21am
 Albany Park World Fest, Aug. 16-17, will feature a multicultural mix of food and music.
Albany Park World Fest, Aug. 16-17, will feature a multicultural mix of food and music.
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Facebook/Funkadesi

ALBANY PARK — Albany Park is one of Chicago's most culturally diverse neighborhoods — at least 70 different languages are spoken by its residents — and its first-ever street fest reflects the community's eclectic influences.

So, if you're heading to World Fest, Lawrence and Kimball avenues Aug. 16-17, forget about '80s cover bands and fried dough. Instead, grab a falafel sandwich and some tostones and prepare to groove to Tsukasa Taiko's Asian drumming or salsa music from Carpacho y su Super Combo.

Food vendors include a number of neighborhood restaurants: Noon-O-Kabab, serving Persian/Mediterranean cuisine; Tortuga's Cantina, with a Latin American menu; Vietnamese cooking from 2 Asian Brothers; and Tano's Pizzeria. Representing all of Eastern Europe: Cevapcici Chicago, with its grilled sausages.

Patty Wetli says attendees shouldn't expect a typical neighborhood street fest:

Music programming spans the globe.

Saturday's schedule:

  • 12:30 p.m., Tsukasa Taiko, Asian drumming
  • 2:30 p.m., Malley Family Middle-Eastern Band
  • 4:30 p.m., Chicago Samba (Brazilian music and dancers)
  • 6:30 p.m., Urban Rhythm (Caribbean fusion/calypso)
  • 8:30 p.m., Sangre Michoacana (regional Mexican)

Sunday's schedule:

  • 12:30 p.m., Mass, Albany Park New Life Community Church
  • 2 p.m., Marimba Ixchel (Guatemalan)
  • 3:30 p.m., Seneke West African Ensemble (West African folkloric)
  • 5:30 p.m., Carpacho y su Super Combo (Colombian salsa and cumbia)
  • 7:30 p.m., Funkadesi (world music)

A children's area for the youngsters will feature pony rides, a petting zoo and carnival rides.

Hours for the festival are noon-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-9 p.m. Sunday. Carnival rides are open 5-10 p.m. Friday, $20 for unlimited rides, and during regular festival hours, with pricing per ride.

The suggested donation for admission to the fest is $5 per person or $10 per family, with proceeds benefiting the community organization Albany Park Neighbors.

A note to those planning on taking public transportation to the fest: Brown Line trains will not be running between Western and Kimball over the weekend. CTA shuttle buses will ferry riders between Western and Kimball, making stops at points in between on Lawrence Avenue.

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