EDGEWATER — To kick off fall on the Far North Side is the return of the annual Edgewater Fall Arts Fair, featuring local artists, a pet costume contest, free admission to the beer garden and plenty of space for neighborhood kids to showcase their entertainment skills.
From 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, the 1000-1100 blocks of West Granville Avenue will be overflowing with the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of some of the neighborhood's most top-notch art, food and live entertainment.
More than 120 artists will be located in tents speckled throughout Edgewater's brunch corridor, accompanied by everything from jazz to country to choral to reggae music across three stages.
The fair's beer garden will boast a free admission (yes, you still have to pay for food and drink) and will feature a mini "Taste of Edgewater" to satisfy festival-goers' hunger with Flaco's Tacos, Little Vietnam and Pearl's Southern Comfort. Lagunitas Brewing will be on hand to quench adult thirst.
Looking to include the little ones? Whether your little one is a pet or human, there's something at the art fair for them.
The amazing works of grade school and high school-age students will be on display at the Young Artists Gallery, and for those younger, a children's activity corner will provide plenty of creative opportunities with live storytelling, puppet shows, finger painting, sidewalk chalk drawing, and ongoing art workshops.
Kids will have their place on the stage, too — local talents from neighborhood schools in and around Edgewater will have their chance to bask in stardom by performing during the festival.
In the event your little one is actually a dog (or cat, or goat, or anything legal in the city of Chicago), there is ample opportunity for them to get noticed as well during the pet costume contest and parade on Sunday.
Owners and pets are invited to dress up in the spirit of this year's "Circus" theme and decorate themselves, their pets and any wagons or carriers as floats and strut their stuff down Granville alongside actual circus performers.
The festival also serves to a cap on the Edgewater Back To School 5K Run/Walk taking place Sunday at Rosemont and Kenmore starting at 8 a.m.
The 5K will take runners and walkers throughout the historic lakefront neighborhood, along Kathy Osterman Beach and around to admire the Edgewater Beach Apartments and beyond.
From each registration fee, $5 goes toward a neighborhood school of the participant's choosing, or they can opt to pay $20 and sponsor a student runner who might not otherwise be able to afford the entrance cost.
To help plan your weekend, check out a map of the arts festival below.
A map of festivities along Granville Ave. [Edgewater Artists In Motion]
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