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Read the press release here.

Pilsen Fest And Tacos Y Tamales Fest Hit Neighborhood This Weekend

By Stephanie Lulay | August 18, 2017 12:30pm | Updated on August 19, 2017 8:59am
 Pilsen Arts & Music Fest is expected to draw 50,000 people to the neighborhood this weekend.
Pilsen Arts & Music Fest is expected to draw 50,000 people to the neighborhood this weekend.
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Pilsen Fest 2016

PILSEN — With a stellar music lineup and tasty eats, two street fests are expected to draw big crowds to Pilsen this weekend. 

Celebrating Pilsen's unique culture and Latinx talent, Pilsen Arts & Music Festival (also known as Pilsen Fest) is expected to bring 50,000 people to the neighborhood. With Grammy Award-winning and Latin Grammy Award-winning acts, the fest runs from noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 18th Street and Blue Island Avenue. 

Headliners include R&B duo Nina Sky, Grammy Award-winner iLe, Mexican rock band Rey Pila, rock vocalist Nina Diaz, Miami-based Elastic Bond and emerging pop duo LOLAA. A full lineup is here. 

World-renowned Pilsen muralist Héctor Duarte will also unveil paintings and prints created for this year's festival, and more than 60 food and art vendors will be featured at the fest. 

The fest is free, but attendees will be asked to give a $5 donation upon entering the fest. The donation benefits community organizations.

Ahead of the fest, organizers will unveil "Pilsen Family Encounter," a new exhibition at the National Museum fo Mexican Art Friday. The year-long project, created in partnership with museum and the T.G. Masaryk Czech School, archives the stories and photographs of Pilsen families, aiming to immortalize Pilsen's diversity, creativity and culture.

Pilsen Fest aims to promote and preserve Pilsen's rich heritage as a historic port of entry for thousands of Latino and Mexican immigrants. The fest is sponsored by bilingual online magazine El BeiSMan. 

Tacos y Tamales Fest

Modeled after a traditional Mexican market, the second annual Tacos y Tamales Festival will bring some of the city's best tacos and tamales together this weekend in Pilsen. The fest runs from 5-10 p.m. Friday and noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 16th and Peoria. 

Food vendors will be serving up some of the best tacos and tamales in Chicago, including eats from Don Pedro Carnitas, Taqueria Los Comales, Cemitas Puebla, Dia De Los Tamales, Aztec Dave's, Yvolina's Tamales, Decolores, El Patron and Churro Factory. 

Latin acts will perform across two stages, including Enrique Calderon y Su Orquesta, RICO, Sonora Dinamita, IDILIO, and RDA (Revolucion de Amor). Tribute acts also will perform hits by Maná, Santana and Selena. 

The fest is free, but attendees will be asked to give a $5 donation upon entering the fest. The donation benefits the Frida Kahlo Community Group​. 

The Tacos y Tamales Festival is presented by Green Curtain Events.