EAST LAKEVIEW — With fairy tale-like magic, North Broadway transforms into a garden oasis once a year for the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts.
It takes 10 hours to create the garden area, and set-up starts noon Friday. From grassy knolls to fairy gardens, it's a sight to behold, said Maureen Martino, executive director of the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce.
"The first time when they walk through the festival, they don't expect it," Martino said. It takes 100 volunteers to coordinate the festival, which is "a labor of love" to many, she added.
In its 11th year, the festival is a celebration of all varieties of art found on Lakeview's east side. More than 150 artists will line North Broadway from Belmont to Hawthorne with their tents bursting with paintings, sculptures and jewelry.
Starting 6 p.m. Friday, the fest will kick off with performances by Akasha and Old Shoe and a preview of what's to come. It opens at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, with live music on two stages by bluesy Sonic Soul, world music band Funkadesi and modern folk act The Way Down Wanderers.
Cooking demonstrations by local eateries like El Mariachi, Bountiful Eatery, Bar Pastoral and Cafe L'Appetito will take place throughout the weekend on the east side of Broadway and Aldine. The festival also will have a kid zone across the street with puppet shows, Storytown improv and crafts.
Starting at noon, the street will be blocked off through 10 p.m. Sunday, with no parking on nearby blocks on Aldine, Buckingham, Melrose and Roscoe.
With a festival produced in-house, the chamber can hand-pick local artists to give the entire weekend a truly homegrown vibe.
"I think it's really about embracing the businesses along the corridor and just making it a little more special for our neighborhood," Martino said.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
